On May 29, 2022, cricket enthusiasts witnessed a thrilling finale of the IPL season, where Gujarat Titans took on Rajasthan Royals at the majestic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The match resulted in a captivating victory for Gujarat, who secured the title by defeating Rajasthan Royals by 7 wickets.
Batting first, Rajasthan Royals struggled to get going, finishing their innings at a modest total of 130 runs after 20 overs. Key contributions came from Jos Buttler, who managed to score 39 runs off 64 balls, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, adding 22 runs to the score. The innings was riddled with wickets as Gujarat's bowling attack, spearheaded by Hardik Pandya with his impressive figures of 3 wickets for just 17 runs in 4 overs, along with Rashid Khan and Yash Dayal picking up crucial wickets, restricted the Rajasthan batsmen effectively. Other notable performances included R Sai Kishore, who claimed 2 wickets, and Mohammad Shami, who took 1.
In response, Gujarat Titans displayed remarkable composure while chasing down the target. After losing their opener, Wriddhiman Saha, early for just 5 runs, Shubman Gill stood firm, scoring an impressive 45 runs off 86 balls. Matthew Wade and Hardik Pandya made valuable contributions, but it was David Miller's brilliant knock of 32 runs off just 23 balls that ultimately led Gujarat to victory as they finished their innings at 133 runs for 3 wickets in just 18.1 overs.
With this match, Gujarat Titans claimed their inaugural IPL title, marking a historic moment in the tournament’s history. The victory not only showcased their impressive team unity and performance throughout the season but also underscored the potent blend of emerging talent and experienced players that made them a formidable force in IPL 2022.