Gujarat Titans skipper Hardik Pandya produced a stellar spell against Rajasthan Royals in the 2022 IPL Final at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Sunday. The flamboyant all-rounder took on the responsibility of taking the wickets on his own shoulder in the big-money final. He claimed three big wickets from Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson and Shimron Hetmyer to limit the Rajasthan Royals to an under-average 130/9 from 20 overs.
Pandya broke into the attack in the ninth when Rajasthan Royals stars Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson built a partnership together. The 28-year-old fired Samson on his first win as skipper RR failed to execute the pull shot and was caught by R Sai Kishore. Buttler, who has been in imperious form this season, also failed to tackle Pandya and became his second victim. On the last ball of his spell he got the better of Hetmyer as short balls again did the trick for Pandya.
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Several former cricketers have praised Pandya for his sensational spell in the big-money final.
Sanjay Manjrekar, who expresses his opinions very clearly, said that “talent koot koot ke bhara hai is bande mein. Hardik Pandya salutes!
Talent koot koot ke bhara hai is band mein. Hardik Pandya salutes! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) May 29, 2022
While veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was also impressed with Hardik, the bowler who stole the show on Sunday night.
“HARDIK the BOWLER is back.. what a fate captain @hardikpandya7 @gujarat_titans,” he tweeted.
HARDIK the MELON is back.. what a spell captain 🔝👏@hardikpandya7 @gujarat_titans
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) May 29, 2022
Hardik at RR tonight 😄 #GTvRR #IPLFinals pic.twitter.com/nxiQSZpnHO
—Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) May 29, 2022
Brilliant spell from Hardik in this great game. Now caught the biggest fish of the game. #GTvsRR
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) May 29, 2022
Good bowling changes, good field placement and excellent shot execution.
Hardik Pandya is proving to be a great captain in this year’s IPL. #GTvsRR #TATAIPL2022 pic.twitter.com/LjAj2gz63i
— Amit Mishra (@MishiAmit) May 29, 2022
Hardik ended his brilliant spell with figures of 3/17 from his four overs, while Rashid Khan (1/18) also delivered once again on the big stage to put his side on course for a title during of its first season.
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Yashasvi Jaiswal started by playing seven balls before clearing Mohammed Shami midway for a boundary, followed by an emphatic drive from cover for six. He then hooked Yash Dayal for a six on the long leg, but the left arm pacer hit on the next ball, embarrassing the southpaw for room and missing the pull to the deep square leg.
Despite Jaiswal’s blitz, Gujarat kept Rajasthan on a tight leash on the power play, with Lockie Ferguson tossing the fastest ball of the tournament with a wide yorker past the bat of wary Buttler. After Rashid Khan left no bounds in his first two overs, including getting a certain round of his googly, Buttler made full use of Ferguson’s width to break back-to-back bounds.
However, after Hardik was introduced into the attack, the Rajasthan Royals continued to lose wickets at regular intervals and struggled to score big runs.
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