The glitzy Indian Premier League's (IPL) 2022 is just a match away from its conclusion as former champions Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Gujarat Titans (GT) are pitted against each other in the summit clash of the cash-rich league on Sunday (May 29).
While new entrants GT have a chance to taste the glory in their maiden season, IPL 2008's winner RR will look to replicate their inaugural season's performance in order to clinch trophy after 14 long years.
RR romped Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL Qualifier 2 to cruise into the final after succumbing to GT in the Qualifier 1 earlier.
The Hardik Pandya-led GT had finished the league stage with the most number of wins which was 10. The Sanju Samson-led RR meanwhile finished second with nine wins. The occasion is all the more special for RR management, as this year in March their first captain Shane Warne - who led the team to a triumph in 2008 - died due to a suspected heart attack and they would want to give the Australian spin wizard a perfect tribute with their second IPL title after 2008.
Meanwhile, Pakistan pace legend Shoaib Akhtar wants RR to win the title in the memory of late Warne by smashing the hell out of GT.
"There was a dull moment in IPL. After that there was fierce competition. One team came back into the final after 14 years. Must remember Shane Warne. Bhajji's favourite, my favourite, our dear friend. Andre Symonds, we dearly miss him. In memory of Shane Warne, Rajasthan go out there and smash the hell out of Gujarat for Shane Warne," Shoaib Akhtar, former Pakistan cricket team pacer, told in an interview to Sportskeeda Cricket.
Harbhajan Singh, who was present at the discussion, added how Yuzvendra Chahal was crucial to RR's chances. So far, the leg-spinner has taken 26 wickets in 16 matches for the Royals.
"He is Jos Buttler in the bowling department. He has won matches on his own. he is a single bowler in the IPL, who is bowling like a spinner. He is bowling slow, enticing the batters to go after him but coming out of the crease. His googly has also been effective. He is playing with the batsman's mind. he has been a champion in chess too but in this game he has outdone a game of chess too," Singh said.
"He has done well against left-handers too. Be it any ground, small or large, it does not really matter to him. He has that confidence. he is bowling like a spinner. There are many other spinners in this IPL, but they just come running and bowl fast. They don't spin the ball. Spinners are supposed to spin the ball that's where you will get used."
