OTD | Gujarat Titans scripted history beating RR to win IPL in their debut season

Against all odds, the Gujarat Titans defied expectations and surprised everyone in their inaugural season of the Indian Premier League. Despite being dismissed by many, they emerged victorious in the tournament, clinching the title with a convincing seven-wicket win over the Rajasthan Royals in the final on May 29, 2022.

Gujarat’s highly regarded bowling attack, led by captain Hardik Pandya (3/17), managed to restrict the formidable batting lineup of the Rajasthan Royals to a modest 130 for nine after losing the toss. Shubman Gill and David Miller showcased their skills by remaining unbeaten on 45 and 32 runs, respectively, securing an emphatic victory for their team.

Although the chase was expected to be comfortable, Rajasthan displayed exceptional bowling performance, making the final a gripping contest. However, Gujarat remained composed in challenging situations throughout the season and successfully completed the chase in 18.1 overs.

During their debut season, Gujarat was not favoured by many, particularly after an auction where they secured the services of wicketkeepers Wriddhiman Saha and Matthew Wade towards the end. Despite not having a star-studded team, Hardik’s leadership skills were impressive, enabling him to bring out the best in his teammates.

Hardik’s all-round performance with bat and ball greatly contributed to the team’s triumph, along with the remarkable abilities of Miller and Rahul Tewatia to stage comebacks from any situation. Rajasthan, after posting a below-par total, had to produce an exceptional effort with the ball to regain control of the game.

The pace duo of Trent Boult and Prasidh Krishna displayed brilliance during the powerplay, reducing Gujarat to 31 for two wickets, dismissing Wriddhiman Saha (5) and Matthew Wade (8). Despite facing difficulties in finding boundaries, Hardik and Gill managed the required run rate with composure.

In the 12th over, R Ashwin was introduced, and Hardik (34 off 30) decided to take him on, hitting a four and a six off consecutive balls to reach a 50-run partnership with Gill and take Gujarat to 77 for two in 12 overs.

Although the skipper eventually fell to a brilliant leg break from Yuzvendra Chahal, Gill and Miller successfully completed the task at hand. The entire stadium, accommodating more than a hundred thousand people, erupted in jubilation when Gill struck the winning six.