IPL 2022: Qualifier 1, GT vs RR – Full List of Award Winners, Player of the Match, Who Said What

The Gujarat Titans proved why they are the table-toppers as they registered an emphatic seven-wicket win over the Rajasthan Royals at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on May 24. By the virtue of this win, they qualify for their maiden final while Rajasthan will face the winner of Eliminator in Qualifier 2.

GT skipper Hardik Pandya won the toss and elected to bowl first. They dismissed opener Yashasvi Jaiswal cheaply before the duo of Jos Buttler and captain Sanju Samson added 68 runs for the second wicket stand. With wickets falling from one end, Buttler held on to the innings firmly from one end and took responsibility with a sensible knock. The Englishman looked set for a century before an unfortunate run out ended his stay in the middle for a 56-ball 89 as the Royals posted a competitive total of 188/6. Mohammed Shami, Yash Dayal, Hardik Pandya, and R Sai Kishore registered a wicket each.

David Miller powers GT to their maiden final

In reply, the Titans lost Wriddhiman Saha for a silver duck before Shubman Gill (35) and Matthew Wade (35) carried out the rescue act with a 72-run stand for the second wicket. Towards the back end, the middle-order duo of Hardik Pandya and David Miller kept the scoreboard ticking and kept Gujarat in the hunt. Hardik played a supporting knock of an unbeaten 40 runs off 27 balls.

It all came down to the final over with 16 runs required and pacer Prasidh Krishna given the responsibility to bowl the final over. Nonetheless, Miller accepted the challenge and clobbered the youngster for three consecutive sixes as GT got home with three balls to spare. The Proteas sensation remained unbeaten on 68 runs from 38 deliveries.

Losing skipper, Sanju Samson said:

“Felt good to put up that kind of total as I felt the wicket was a bit sticky and there was lot of swing in the powerplay. I think we managed to put in a good score, but I think they played really well to chase the score down. It was a bit two-paced and bounce was also not even, I just went after the bowling from ball one and I got a bit lucky to get a few runs in the powerplay, but wicket was a bit tough to bat on and we finished off really well. Scoring that kind of a total on this wicket in these conditions, against that bowling attack was a great performance by our batters. We have been doing really well, the five bowlers have been our main bowlers and they have done really well throughout the tournament. Having Riyan also helps, but felt it was a bit better to bat in the second innings as it came on nicely onto the bat. We have been playing some really good cricket throughout the tournament, couple of overs here and there, couple of extra runs, couple of off-rhythm by couple of our bowlers, we will try to come back and play some good cricket. In this format luck (the toss) plays a huge role, so it all comes down to what you want to do in your control. Hoping for a good result in the next game.”

Winning skipper, Hardik Pandya said:

“I’ve started to balance things in my life. 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 spend some time with family, and that’s made me a better cricketer as well. Don’t have much feeling right now. Trying to be neutral again I’ll say. 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. I’ve got success by playing for the team, no matter how scratchy I look, how good I look, irrelevant for me. The batting order we’ve had – we’ve had to make sure everyone chips in. We appreciate those 10s, 15s, 20s.”

Player of the Match, David Miller said:

“I think opportunity, firstly (what’s changed?). I’ve been given a role, I felt extremely backed from the outset. My personal game – I’m enjoying my role, I’ve been playing for many years now. Understanding my game a lot better. In high-pressure situations you tend to go away from your gameplan but I feel like I’m trying to keep everything together close to the gameplan. There has been a lot of going wide to me on the off-side, so I decided actually for the first time to step across. Backed myself and went with it. The rest I tried to hit as hard as possible. That’s the joys of IPL – you play for different teams, get to meet different players. It was a new team so there are a few butterflies here and there. From the first win, everything sort of aligned. You have to control what you can, can’t think too much ahead. Concentrate on your breathing, and if it’s in your area, you have to capitalise. We’ve got a few days off. There’s a bus trip back, we’ll have a few drinks and celebrate.”