IPL 2022: All-round Hardik Pandya show helps Gujarat beat Rajasthan by 37 runs, climb at the top of table

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Navi Mumbai, April 14: Captain Hardik Pandya could do nothing wrong tonight and guided Gujarat Titans to an emphatic 37-run win over Rajasthan Royals here at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy on Thursday (April 14) in the IPL 2022.

Leading by example with the bat, Pandya smashed another fifty and took Titans to 192 for four and then marshalled his bowlers well to restrict Rajasthan Royals to 155 for 9 in the run chase.

RR started the run chase on a high as Jos Buttler smacked GT bowlers from the word go. The right-handed English batsman played a whirlwind knock and notched up another fiery half-century off just 23 deliveries.

He scooped Lockie Ferguson for a biggie over fine leg and brought up his fifty inside the powerplay. Buttler, however, didn't last long and was bowled by Lockie Ferguson on the very next delivery. At the end of the powerplay, the Royals were 65/3.

Captain Samson was outplayed by a direct hit from his opposite number and returned after adding just 11. Despite being taken to the cleaners early in the innings by Buttler, GT debutant Yash Dayal had a memorable outing as he picked up a couple of wickets.

The left-arm quick dismissed Devdutt Padikkal for a golden duck in his first over and got Rassie Van der Dussen caught behind for 6 in his third over.

However, Shimron Hetmyer - who is proving himself as a finisher - hit some nasty blows to the GT bowlers in the middle overs but was outfoxed by Shami. He was caught at long-on for 29 and the Royals lost their sixth wicket. But none of Rajasthan batters could rise to the occasion in a big run chase and their innings ended at 155/9 in stipulated 20 overs.

Hardik (87 not out off 52) first found an able ally in Abhinav Manohar (43 off 28) before he exploded in the company of David Miller (31 not out off 14) to power the IPL debutants to their highest score of the tournament. Hardik and Manohar shared an 86-run stand for the fourth wicket before the skipper and Miller blasted 53 off 25 balls to end the innings in style.

After being put in to bat, Gujarat found themselves reeling at 53/3. While Hardik's 52-ball knock was studded with eight fours and four sixes, Manohar struck four fours and two maximums. Miller, who overall hit five boundaries and a six, fetched 21 runs in the penultimate over off Kuldeep Sen (1/51).

To start with, Hardik was aggressive on pacer Kuldeep as he hammered him for three successive boundaries in the fifth over. He then fetched his first maximum in the seventh over, when he clobbered Riyan Parag over his head.

The duo upped the ante when Manohar launched into inform Yuzvendra Chahal, hammering him for a four and maximum, a lofted inside-out drive over cover. The two then took on Kuldeep, hammering him for three boundaries in the 14th over, where Hardik also notched up his fifty, with a cut towards the backward point fence.

And in the next over, Pandya clobbered two successive maximums off seasoned spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who leaked 16 runs in the over. With Titans reaching 130/3 in 15 overs, the stage was set for a big total.

After Manohar departed, Miller ably supported the skipper. Earlier, Gujarat Titans lost opener Matthew Wade (12) cheaply, courtesy a direct hit by Rassie Van Der Dussen from cover. Gujarat slipped to 15/2, as Vijay Shakar (2) also perished cheaply and then a rusty looking Shubman Gill (13) became Parag's first victim after he was caught by Shimron Hetymar at the long-on fence.