IPL 2022 Final, RR vs GT as it happened: Hardik Pandya and Co win by 7 wickets to bag first title

Most Valuable Player of the season: Who else but Jos The Boss Buttler. What a season he had, and he’s returning a rich man too after tonight with all these awards.

Best catch of the season: Evin Lewis gets the award for his stunning one-handed catch on the run to dismiss Rinku Singh and help LSG beat KKR in a thriller.

Orange Cap: Jos Buttler, of course. He scored a staggering 863 runs this season. He also matched Virat Kohli’s record for most tons (4) in one season.

Purple Cap: Yuzvendra Chahal gets the award. He took 27 wickets – the most ever by a spinner in an IPL season.

Most fours this season: Jos Buttler again. He hit 83 fours this season.

Fastest delivery of the season: GT’s Lockie Ferguson gets the award for his 157.3 kmph thunderbolt in the final tonight.

Power player of the season: Jos Buttler gets this one too.

Fairplay award: Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals are the joint winners.

Jos Buttler: He gets the Super Sixes and Gamechanger awards.

Super striker of the season: Dinesh Karthik gets the award. Among batters who faced 100 balls this season, the RCB finisher’s strike-rate of 183.33 was the highest.

Emerging player of the season: SRH pacer Umran Malik gets the award. He took 22 wickets, the fourth-highest this season.

Player of the match: Hardik Pandya wins the award for his all-round show. He got 3/17 with the wickets of Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler and Shimron Hetmyer, and with the bat he scored a crucial 34 off 30.

11.39 pm: Shubman Gill does finish it off in style by pulling Obed McCoy for a huge six. He remains unbeaten on 45 off 43, with David Miller not out on 32 off 19. What a tournament this was for GT! Their debut season and they finished the league stage at the top before bagging the title. Just a slight smile and a calm handshake between Hardik Pandya and Gary Kirsten as the rest of the team goes wild in celebration.

GUJARAT TITANS WIN BY 7 WICKETS!

After 18 overs, GT are 127/3: Six runs were needed with one ball remaining in that Ashwin over, Miller swung his bat hard to finish it off in style but only managed an inside edge for two. Gujarat need 4 off 12.

After 17 overs, GT are 122/3: Two fours for Miller! Prasidh returns to the attack and the left-hander picks boundaries behind the wicket. Gujarat are almost there, they need 9 off 18.

After 16 overs, GT are 109/3: Six! Ashwin tosses one up to middle and leg, Miller stays in the crease and whacks it over mid-wicket for a maximum. The off-spinner has conceded 27 runs in his two overs so far. Big over for GT, 12 runs from it. They now need 22 off 24.

After 15 overs, GT are 97/3: McCoy bowls a slower one outside off and Miller hits it for four. Eight runs came from that over as Gill moves on to 33 off 35. Gujarat need 34 off 30.

After 14 overs, GT are 89/3: Yuzvendra Chahal finishes with fantastic figures of 1/20 from his four overs. Gujarat need 42 off 36.

After 13.2 overs, GT are 86/3: WICKET! An absolute beauty from Yuzvendra Chahal and he removes Hardik Pandya! It was tossed up, it dipped, it turned sharply, and it took the edge to the slip fielder. High class bowling by RR’s ace spinner. Hardik departs for 34 off 30. The new batter is David Miller.

After 13 overs, GT are 84/2: Boult returns to the attack in search of a wicket and concedes seven runs to finish with figures off 1/14 from his four overs. The left-arm pacer was brilliant tonight. Gujarat need 47 off 42.

After 12 overs, GT are 77/2: Big over for Gujarat! Ashwin bowls it quick and wide and Hardik throws his bat at it to get an outside edge for four. The right-hander then stays in the crease and whacks one over mid-wicket for six. Hardik and Gill have added 54 off 47 for the third wicket. Gujarat need 54 off 48.

After 11 overs, GT are 62/2: Shot! McCoy offers width and Hardik stands still and swings his bat cleanly to pick four past cover. That was timed wonderfully. Eight runs came from that over. Gujarat need 69 off 54. R Ashwin is joining the attack now.

After 10 overs, GT are 54/2: Rashid for GT, Chahal for RR – both leg-spinners treated with respect by the batters. Chahal concedes just six runs in his third over. Gujarat need 77 off 60.

After 9 overs, GT are 48/2: Good over for Gujarat! Prasidh returns to the attack and leaks two fours as Hardik hits one over mid-off before Gill ends the over with an inside edge past the keeper. Gujarat need 83 off 66.

After 8 overs, GT are 38/2: Gill survives! He steps out to Chahal and mistimes it but luckily for him, the ball falls just behind Hetmyer who was running back from cover. But another good over for RR, just three runs from it. Gujarat have to get going, they need 93 off 72.

After 7 overs, GT are 35/2: Left-arm pacer Obed McCoy joins the attack and concedes just four runs in his first over. He was brilliant in the Eliminator and RR will be hoping he delivers again tonight.

After 6 overs, GT are 31/2: Chahal does well to concede just two runs off the first five balls but Gill plays a powerful sweep past square-leg for four to end the over. That’s the end of the powerplay, Rajasthan won it for sure. But GT still have the upper hand.

After 5 overs, GT are 25/2: Excellent over from Boult, a wicket from it and just three runs from it. Gujarat have Gill and Hardik at the crease now, they need a partnership. Chahal is joining the attack now.

After 4.3 overs, GT are 23/2: WICKET! Boult is rewarded for a superb spell! Wade chips it to mid-wicket and Parag makes no mistake. The left-hander walks back for 8 off 10. Game on!

After 4 overs, GT are 22/1: Prasidh comes from around the wicket to Wade and concedes five wides down leg. He then bowls a hat-trick of dots but the left-hander responds with a pull for six. The right-arm pacer then bowls two more dots to end the over. All or nothing there.

After 3 overs, GT are 11/1: Maiden over! Brilliant from Boult. He keeps a tight line to Gill, gets some shape in and good carry to the keeper, and sends down six dot balls. This is a fantastic start with the ball for Rajasthan.

After 2 overs, GT are 11/1: Wade is the new batter in. As we had written earlier, GT won’t panic with early setbacks. Their middle order is a strongsuit.

Gujarat Titans, chasing glory

WICKET! 1.4: Wriddhiman Saha 5(7) b Prasidh Krishna Four-dot-out! Saha plays a lovely swivel pull and a couple of deliveries later, is beaten by a peach by Prasidh. Could have been 9/2 but RR will take this. GT 9/1

After 1 over, GT are 5/0: Oh, Yuzi what have you done! Gill should have been out first ball. An attempted flick, takes an inside edge, loops to the attacking short square leg fielder. Unfortunately for RR, it is Chahal. Over-dives and makes a mess of a simple chance. Gill finishes the over with four. Salt, meet wound.

Of course, Trent Boult has the ball in hand. RR need something special from him.

Gill and Saha walk into the middle after a rather stunning light show in the innings break.

Rashid Khan (not verbatim): “I’ve had to adjust my lengths as the season has progressed. That’s why I think I’ve got wickets and contributed for the team. Staying calm is something we discussed. It’s the final but we have to focus on our skills. The pressure was there but we kept things simple.”

9.53 pm: Shami ends the innings in style by cleaning up Parag with a sizzling yorker. Parag gets out for 15 off 15, Shami returns with figures of 1/33. That was an incredible bowling performance by Gujarat, they are the firm favourites to win the title at this point. Hardik led from the front with the ball and his strategies were on point too.

RR finish with 130/9

After 19.4 overs, RR are 130/8: WICKET! Parag manages to get four on the off side and then hits one down the ground. He comes back for two but Obed McCoy falls way short and is run-out for 8 off 5. The new batter is Prasidh Krishna.

After 19 overs, RR are 123/7: Brilliant over from Yash Dayal, just three singles from it. Riyan Parag refuses to take a run off the last ball to retain the strike for the start of the final over. The left-hander has to clear the rope a few times for RR to get to a somewhat respectable total. He’s batting on 8 off 9 at the moment. Mohammed Shami has the ball in hand.

After 18 overs, RR are 120/7: McCoy ends the over in style by sweeping the ball for six. Raw power there from the left-hander. That was an expensive over from Sai Kishore, the left-arm spinner got a wicket but conceded 16 runs.

After 17.3 overs, RR are 112/7: WICKET! Trent Boult hit a six as David Miller caught the ball at long on and went over the rope, but the right-hander then hits the ball to Rahul Tewatia at long-off and has to walk back for 11 off 7. Sai Kishore gets his second wicket. The new batter is Obed McCoy.

After 17 overs, RR are 104/6: Lockie Ferguson returns to the attack and concedes six singles. Rajasthan have Riyan Parag and Trent Boult at the crease, they need to target getting at least 30 runs off the last three overs.

After 15.5 overs, RR are 98/6: WICKET! And another one bites the dust. This time it’s Sai Kishore who removes R Ashwin. The right-hander steps out and tries to hit the left-arm spinner out of the park but mistimes it and David Miller takes the catch at long-on. Ashwin walks back for 6 off 9. The new batter is Trent Boult.

After 15 overs, RR are 94/5: WICKET! It’s that man Hardik Pandya again! What a night he’s having. He finishes his spell with the wicket of the dangerous Shimron Hetmyer (11 off 12). It was a simple caught and bowled. Hardik finishes with sensational figures of 3/17. The new batter is Riyan Parag.

After 14 overs, RR are 84/4: Rashid Khan finishes off a brilliant spell with figures of 1/18 from his four overs. The leg-spinner was treated with respect by the RR batters right through his spell today. What an asset he is for any team.

After 12.1 overs, RR are 79/4: WICKET! Hardik Pandya removes Jos Buttler! Massive moment in the match! Hardik bowled it short and it nipped and took the outside edge. Wonderful, wonderful bowling. This is a huge blow for RR as Buttler departs for 39 off 35. He had got his eye in and is most dangerous in the second half of an innings. The new batter is R Ashwin.

After 11.5 overs, RR are 79/3: WICKET! Rashid Khan returns to the attack and strikes! Devdutt Padikkal’s ordeal comes to an end as he cuts it straight to Mohammed Shami at point. The left-hander departs for 2 off 10, the new batter is Shimron Hetmyer. Rajasthan Royals are in trouble.

After 11 overs, RR are 75/2: Excellent over from Hardik, just four runs from it. He’s bowling with pace and mixing his lengths up smartly. Padikkal, meanwhile, is having a tough time at the crease. The left-hander is yet to get off the mark after facing seven deliveries.

Also read: Jos Buttler equals Virat Kohli’s record of four centuries in one IPL season

Record alert: Jos Buttler has gone past David Warner’s tally of 848 runs in the 2016 season. He is now second on the all-time list and behind only Virat Kohli’s tally from 2016 (973 runs).

After 10 overs, RR are 71/2: Uff, Jos Buttler! The right-hander plays two cracking strokes to pick up boundaries. Shami banged it in and Buttler pulled it powerfully in the gap, before playing a sumptuous on-the-rise drive through mid-off and cover for another four.

After 8.2 overs, RR are 60/2: WICKET! Captain removes captain! Hardik Pandya joins the attack and removes Sanju Samson with his second delivery. The crowd goes wild! Very poor shot from the right-hander, he simply swung his bat with no balance and got a top edge to point. He departs for 14 off 11. The new batter is Devdutt Padikkal.

After 8 overs, RR are 59/1: Just the five singles from Rashid’s second over. The RR batters seem keen to not take risks against the star Afghan leg-spinner.

After 7 overs, RR are 54/1: Two fours for Buttler! Lockie turns on the heat but the right-hander is seeing the cricket ball like a football these days and he finds boundaries on the off side. He moves on to 19 off 18.

Stat alert: Lockie Ferguson has just bowled the fastest delivery of the season. The right-arm pacer beats Jos Buttler with a 157.3 kmph thunderbolt! Umran Malik, with a 157 kmph delivery, had the record till now.

After 6 overs, RR are 44/1: Rashid Khan joins the attack and he’s left frustrated as Sai Kishore lets the ball through at cover and concedes four. But the leg-spinner does well to give away just three more runs off the next five balls. That’s the end of the powerplay, both teams will be reasonably happy with their performance so far.

After 5 overs, RR are 37/1: Lockie joins the attack and delivers fiery pace immediately. But Samson has been ultra aggressive of late and he begins his innings with a boundary again. It was slightly short of a good length and the right-hander hit it over mid-on for four. It wasn’t timed well but had just enough on it to clear the fielder. That was a good over for GT, though, just six runs from it.

After 4 overs, RR are 31/1: WICKET! Dayal removes Jaiswal! The left-hander played a superb hook for six but pulls the next ball to the fielder in the deep. He walks back for 22 off 16. The new batter is skipper Sanju Samson.

After 3 overs, RR are 21/0: What an absolutely stunning shot from Jaiswal! He was swinging hard and not connecting, but Shami obliged with a half volley and the left-hander drove it powerfully over cover for a flat, huge six. That was a big over for Rajasthan as Jaiswal also got a four and a three.

After 2 overs, RR are 7/0: Shot! Dayal bowls it short and wide and Buttler cracks it past point for four. But the left-arm pacer does well to concede just a single off the remaining five balls. Good start for Gujarat.

After 1 over, RR are 2/0: Terrific first over from Shami, wastes not time in hitting his mark. The right-arm pacer gets movement and finds good lengths to give GT a solid start.

7.59 pm: It is time! The IPL 2022 final is good to go. Gujarat Titans have the home support, Rajasthan Royals have immense motivation too. The players walk out to the middle and the crowd erupts. The atmosphere in the stadium is truly something else. Yashasvi Jaiswal and the one and only Jos Buttler are at the crease. Mohammed Shami has the new ball in hand. Who will win the IPL? Let’s find out!

7.55 pm: The players are on the field and it’s time for the Indian national anthem.

Playing XIs:

Gujarat Titans: Wriddhiman Saha (w), Shubman Gill, Matthew Wade, Hardik Pandya (c), David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Lockie Ferguson, Yash Dayal, Mohammed Shami.

Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (w/c), Devdutt Padikkal, Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag, Ashwin Ravichandran, Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna, Obed McCoy, Yuzvendra Chahal.

Team changes:

Rajasthan Royals are unchanged. Gujarat Titans have one change – Lockie Ferguson replaces Alzarri Joseph.

7.33 pm: Samson believes the experience of having played here a couple of days ago is an advantage for his team. Pandya says he wanted to bowl first anyway, excited to receive the support from the home crowd.

TOSS:

Sanju Samson has won the toss and Rajasthan Royals will bat first.

Glimpses from the opening ceremony...

7.00 pm: Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Indian Premier League 2022 final between Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

It all comes down to this! It is the Gujarat Titans versus the Rajasthan Royals! The teams that finished one and two on the points table at the end of the league stage will clash for the title tonight. Will GT take home the trophy in their first season? Or will RR win the title for the first time since the first season?

All images in the blog courtesy Sportzpics for IPL