Gujarat Titans (GT), a short time ago noted their name on the precious Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy. Hardik Pandya-led side, debuting in the tournament, won their maiden IPL title, on Sunday, May 29. Pandya, who led the team at the biggest stage in the cricketing world, lifted the cup in front of a crowd of more than 1,00,000, at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, his home ground.
GT, with absolute team efforts throughout the tournament, has managed to achieve this success with merely four defeats in the league stage games. For this execution, former India head coach Gary Kirsten has praised Pandya for his captaincy contributions.
Speaking to broadcasters after the match, Kirsten stated: “He (Hardik) has been fantastic. I loved working with him. He is a high-profile guy in India, but he has been incredibly humble and willing to learn as a leader and get engaged with his players, which I think is really, really important as a leader. Especially in the IPL and in India, he has been really engaging with all his players. He wants to help them to be a better version of themselves. He has come in and played with real responsibility, which is very different to what we have seen in other IPLs. He has batted beautifully.”
Kirsten was the coach of the World Cup-winning Indian cricket team, back in 2011.
Besides, Pandya the fourth-highest run-scorer this year, certainly had a stunning season, as the former Mumbai Indians’ player slashed 487 runs in 15 innings, at a strike rate of 131.26. He also picked 8 wickets in 10 innings, he bowled in.
Hardik Pandya leads Gujarat Titans to IPL triumph
Reviewing the closing contest, Rajasthan Royals (RR) skipper Sanju Samson won the toss and chose to bat. Although, the men in pink botched to deliver extraordinary performance, as Jos Buttler’s steady knock of 39 runs off 35 deliveries aided RR to put on a total of 130 for nine. For GT, skipper Pandya was at his best as the 28-year-old finished the season with a brilliant spell of 4-17-3. GT’s overall bowling attack produced an excellent performance.
In reply, GT lost the wickets of opener Wriddhiman Saha and Matthew Wade, in the early overs. Despite these early falls, opener Shubman Gill and Pandya together, carried on a 63 runs stand. Pandya, at his score of 34 runs in 30 deliveries, was dismissed by RR leggie Yuzvendra Chahal. Though it didn’t change things, Gill and David Miller mutually went on to fire things up with a match-winning and unbeaten partnership of 47 runs in 29 deliveries. Gill scored 45 runs while Miller notched 32 off 19. With their skipper being awarded the Player of the Match prize, GT won the game by 7 wickets.
Written By Prachi Pisal
Get the latest cricket news here and like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
