IPL 2022: GT season review
The Gujarat Titans enjoyed a dream run in the recently-concluded IPL 2022 as they went on to become the champions in their very first edition. They got the better of Rajasthan Royals by three wickets in the final in Ahmedabad, which was their third victory over the eventual runners-up of the season after they defeated them once in the league stage and Qualifier 1.
The Titans were not considered to be strong contenders at the start of the season, but they proved everyone wrong with their consistent on-field performances that not only saw them finish on top of the league standings but also laying their hands on the silverware. Without further ado, here’s a look at how the Hardik Pandya-led side got the job done.
IPL 2022: GT’s triumphant outing in their maiden appearance
The Gujarat Titans appointed star India all-rounder Hardik Pandya as their captain after bringing him on board for a staggering INR 15 crore. Their risk of breaking the bank was worth it as Hardik not only led the side outstandingly well but also proved his mettle with his all-round skills, scoring 487 runs and picking up 10 wickets with his best figures being 3/17 in the final where he broke the back of the Rajasthan Royals.
While GT did occupy the pole position at the points table for a long time, they did eventually slip down to second after a couple of losses in the second half. Nevertheless, they successfully made it back to the top after handing a thumping 62-run victory over the Lucknow Super Giants while defending 144 on a slow wicket and became the first team to seal a playoff berth in the 2022 season.
They won their next couple of games before getting a reality check from a struggling Royal Challengers Bangalore who handed them an eight-wicket loss. The Titans took this defeat as a wake-up call and ensured that they did not slip any further and won the next couple of games comprehensively. The Gujarat Titans had their bases covered in both their batting and bowling. Nonetheless, it was their rock-solid middle-order consisting of skipper Pandya, Rahul Tewatia, David Miller and Rashid Khan that took the spotlight and ensured that the Ahmedabad-based franchise had arguably was most consistent unit in this year’s competition as they ended up with the trophy in their first season.
