Playing their first Indian Premier League (IPL) season, Gujarat Titans (GT) secured a place in the final of the 2022 season with an exceptional seven-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Tuesday, May 25. Leading the line from the front is skipper Hardik Pandya, who hit an unbeaten 40 and set up a 106-run stand for the fourth wicket with man-of-the-match David Miller (68 not out).
After the crucial victory, Pandya said he had no feelings after helping the Titans reach the final in their maiden season. Hardik, who won four titles with Mumbai Indians, is yet to lose a final in the IPL.
"I've started to balance things in my life.. this has been a constant effort through the last couple of years. In the end, my family, my son, my wife, and my brother as well have played a big role. They kind of allowed me to get neutral in life. I look forward to go home and spending some time with family, and that's made me a better cricketer as well," Hardik Pandya told Star Sports. "Don't have much feelings right now. Trying to be neutral again I'll say."
Hardik Pandya said having different players who bring various values sets to the dressing room was important in order to have good people in the mix, "All the 23 players are different characters, bring different things to the table. Was saying to Miller as well, if you have good people around you, you get good things. It's been that story for us. The kind of people we have, the genuine human beings we have.
"I genuinely see even the players in the dugout are trying and praying for them to make sure they do well. That is something fantastic and that is the reason we have reached where we have reached. It's all about making sure we respect this game. Rash has been fantastic throughout the season and throughout his cricketing journey. But I'm proud of Miller - the way we have played. Wherever my team requires me to play, I don't generally demand where I want to bat. That's not how I've got success," he added.
Pandya has had his best season with the bat in IPL 2022. After Tuesday's game, he now has scored 453 runs from 14 matches at an average of 45.30. During the Qualifier 1 fixture, he set the tone for Gujarat with a quickfire start but then allowed South African David Miller to take charge as the Royals were unable to control his onslaught. Miller smashed pacer Prasidh Krishna for three sixes in the final over to complete a big victory.
Gujarat Titans will now wait to see who among Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and the Royals meet them in the title clash in Ahmedabad on May 29. The second clash of the eliminator will see LSG face RCB who will fight to remain in the race for the ultimate title at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday, May 15.
