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The 2022 Indian Premier League ended with a result few had predicted when the season began. Gujarat Titans, a franchise assembled only months earlier and entering the tournament for the first time, completed a remarkable campaign by defeating Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 29, 2022. In a league where established sides had spent years building combinations and experience, Gujarat arrived and immediately set a new standard for balance, clarity and consistency.
Their victory was not built around one extraordinary week or a late surge in form. Gujarat had been the most composed side across the season and carried that control into the final. Under Hardik Pandya’s leadership, they finished at the top of the points table, won Qualifier 1 against Rajasthan Royals and then delivered another clinical performance when the two sides met again in the title clash.
Rajasthan entered the final with considerable momentum of their own. Jos Buttler had produced one of the finest batting seasons in IPL history, Yuzvendra Chahal had led the wicket charts for long periods and Sanju Samson’s side had developed into one of the tournament’s strongest batting units. Yet the final never allowed Rajasthan to settle into their usual rhythm.
After winning the toss and choosing to bat, Rajasthan were immediately placed under pressure by Gujarat’s bowling attack. Mohammed Shami set the tone with another disciplined opening spell, while Hardik himself produced perhaps his finest performance of the season. He removed Samson, Buttler and Shimron Hetmyer, finishing with outstanding figures of 3 for 17 from four overs. Rashid Khan controlled the middle phase with characteristic precision and R Sai Kishore provided important support on a surface that increasingly rewarded disciplined bowling.
Rajasthan eventually managed 130 for 9 from their 20 overs, a total that reflected Gujarat’s complete control across every phase of the innings. Buttler top-scored with 39 from 35 balls, but Gujarat never allowed the innings to develop beyond isolated partnerships. The pressure created by their bowlers was matched by the sharpness of their fielding, which had quietly become one of the defining strengths of the side throughout the tournament.
The chase reflected the same calmness that had marked Gujarat’s entire campaign. Wriddhiman Saha gave them a steady start before Hardik once again played a central role with the bat, scoring 34 from 30 deliveries and ensuring there were no opportunities for Rajasthan to regain momentum. His partnership with Shubman Gill settled the contest long before the finish arrived.
Gill, still only 22 at the time, carried the innings through to the end with an unbeaten 45 from 43 balls. Fittingly, it was Gill who struck the winning runs, lifting Obed McCoy over the leg side for six as Ahmedabad erupted in celebration. David Miller’s unbeaten 32 from 19 deliveries further underlined Gujarat’s depth and ability to close games efficiently under pressure.
The significance of Gujarat’s triumph extended beyond the scorecard. Expansion teams are rarely expected to challenge immediately, let alone dominate a competition as demanding as the IPL. Yet Gujarat built a side with clearly defined roles and trusted players who had often been overlooked elsewhere. Rahul Tewatia repeatedly rescued difficult situations, Miller rediscovered his best form, Shami remained relentless with the new ball and Rashid once again demonstrated why he was among the most influential T20 bowlers in the world.
At the centre of it all stood Hardik Pandya. Entering the season, there were questions surrounding both his fitness and leadership credentials. By the end of the tournament, he had answered every one of them. He contributed with bat and ball consistently, handled pressure with maturity and led a debut franchise to one of the most convincing title-winning campaigns the IPL has witnessed.
Gujarat Titans did not merely win the IPL in 2022. They established themselves immediately as a side built for sustained success, and in doing so produced one of the most impressive debut seasons in the history of franchise cricket.
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