Hardik, Gill and Miller steer Gujarat Titans to IPL title win

Gujarat Titans became the 7th team to win the Indian Premier League after they put in a calm, clinical performance in Ahmedabad to get the better of Rajasthan Royals with skipper Hardik Pandya playing a starring role with both bat and ball.

Was the chase as easy as the scoreline suggests?

The chase was clinical, despite some pressure built by the Rajasthan Royals’ bowlers. Sanju Samson gambled with his bowling changes, bringing on R Ashwin only in the 12th over in a bid to counter RR’s left-heavy lower middle order. However, Gujarat kept abreast of the asking rate with some smart partnerships.

Who did that?

While they lost both Wriddhiman Saha and Matthew Wade inside the tight powerplay set up by Prasidh Krishna and Trent Boult, the innings never went into a tailspin thanks to a calm stand between Hardik Pandya and Shubman Gill. The latter saw Yuzvedra Chahal put down a simple chance at short midwicket in the first over bowled by Boult and cashed in on the opportunity. He put on 63 as Hardik picked his big shots to clinical perfection, including a six off Ashwin. However, he was dismissed going into the back end of the innings when Chahal had him nicking to slip for 34.

Was there a twist after that?

It was RR’s best chance to claw their way back into the game. But David Miller and Shubman Gill carried them home with another smart stand worth 47, with Miller also lofting Ashwin for a six over midwicket. Fittingly, Gill finished things off with another six to make light work of the chase.

Why did Rajasthan struggle?

The pitch, which had seen a game already being played on it a couple of days ago was on the stickier side. It was also the reason skipper Sanju Samson wanted to bat first before further wear and tear. And it played to expectation, and worse. Rajasthan were largely unable to get the boundaries, managing only 13 in all.

Was it a struggle for everyone then?

In the powerplay, Yashasvi Jaiswal managed to pick 14 in an over off Mohammed Shami, while Jos Buttler (who finished with a tournament with 863 runs) also managed five boundaries in his 39. Rajasthan managed 44 in the powerplay before it all went downhill steadily.

How so?

It began as Rashid Khan (4-0-18-1) and Hardik Pandya took control of the middle overs with the ball. The latter proved to be a surprise package with his mix of back of length deliveries, cutters and bouncers – all of which paid dividends. Pandya finished as the wrecker in chief as he accounted for Sanju Samson (caught trying to slog a back of length delivery), Jos Buttler (nicking to the ‘keeper) and Shimron Hetmyer (caught and bowled) and broke the spine of Rajasthan’s batting. His 3-17 also allowed Gujarat some luxury with their bowling options even towards the end when Riyan Parag and Co. looked to get a final assault.

Brief Scores:Rajasthan Royals 130/9 (Jos Buttler 39; Hardik Pandya 3-17) lost to Gujarat Titans 133/3 in 18.1 ov (Shubman Gill 45*, Hardik Pandya 34) by 7 wickets