For the second consecutive year, the Gujarat Titans, led by Hardik Pandya, emerged as a remarkably well-rounded team in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Yet, their aspirations of triumph were eclipsed by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and their revered captain M. S. Dhoni. This shift of fortune was greeted with magnanimity by Hardik, who holds Dhoni in high regard as a mentor and guide.
After an enthralling series of matches at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the IPL, renowned for its intensity, reached its climax with only the final two deliveries determining the champion. As the Titans’ Ravindra Jadeja and Shivam Dube grappled to counter Mohit Sharma’s precise sequence of four yorkers in the last over of a 171-run chase, the Titans’ meticulous preparation and selection of skilled players for various tasks became evident. This strategy of team-building has been masterfully executed by teams like CSK and Mumbai Indians, as reflected in their decorated trophy cabinets. The Titans seem poised to follow in their footsteps.
In a crucial moment, when Hardik displayed a relieved smile prior to Mohit’s fifth delivery, it mirrored his strategic acumen. However, the unpredictable nature of sports unfolded as Mohit conceded a six to Jadeja. Despite needing four runs from the final ball and the odds of an attempted blockhole delivery potentially turning into a wide, the championship appeared to remain in the Gujarat stronghold. Yet, in a moment emblematic of Saurashtra’s tenacity, Jadeja clinched the title with a clever shot past short fine-leg, marking an epochal finish to an exceptional season.
With poise, Hardik and his team accepted this lesson. Their brief yet victorious journey indicates a return with renewed strategies to counter challenges posed by exceptional individual performances on opposing sides. The Titans experienced only four losses in the league stage, each highlighting distinct demonstrations of aggression. The likes of Rinku Singh’s Kolkata Knight Riders heist, a Sanju Samson-Shimron Hetmyer counterattack for Rajasthan Royals, Ishant Sharma’s death-bowling brilliance for Delhi Capitals, and Suryakumar Yadav’s maiden IPL century for Mumbai Indians outshone the Titans. Simply put, no ordinary or above-average cricketing prowess managed to surpass them this year.
Although CSK encountered setbacks in decision-making and local pacers on Monday night, their batters triumphed by countering the Titans’ top bowlers, Mohammad Shami and Rashid Khan, during the final. Notably, Shami, the season’s most effective new-ball bowler, remained wicketless, while Rashid, a consistent threat, conceded 44 runs in three overs.
In hindsight, Rashid’s inconsistent performance stands as a rare flaw for the Titans. Despite securing his best wicket tally (27) this season, his economy rate escalated to 8.23 runs per over from his career average of 6.67. Moreover, Rashid conceded the second-highest number of runs (552) by a bowler in an IPL season, only trailing CSK’s Tushar Deshpande, who conceded 564 runs this year.
