Kolkata: Captaincy sometimes brings out the best from a player and Hardik Pandya seems to be the best example. The allrounder, who is maturing as a leader and performer with every match, once again led from the front to help his side Gujarat Titans beat Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets in Qualifier 1 of the IPL at the Eden Gardens here on Tuesday. With the win, Gujarat booked a ticket to the final in their maiden appearance in the tournament.
It was not a typical slam-bang inning generally associated with T20 cricket, but Pandya, who never looked to be in any trouble, kept the asking rate always under control to steal the thunder from a Sanju Samson-Jos Buttler show earlier in the evening. The Royals put up a 188/6 after being asked to bat first by Pandya. GT reached the target with three balls remaining, thanks to some sensational six-hitting by David Miller (68 off 38 balls, 3x4, 5x6) in the final over, getting 191 for three.
RR pacer Trent Boult struck early, having Wriddhiman Saha caught behind in the second ball of the GT innings, but Subhuman Gill took charge, playing some delightful shots to help the side get their highest run (64/1) in the Powerplay.
Gill’s unfortunate run out in a mixup with Matthew Wade and the latter departing soon after finding Buttler at mid-wicket boundary in Obed McCoy’s first over raised some hopes for RR. But Pandya’s composed 40-run innings off 27 balls, without any sixes, left RR to try their luck for the second time in Qualifier 2 on Friday.
This story is from the May 25, 2022 edition of The Times of India.
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This story is from the May 25, 2022 edition of The Times of India.
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