Hardik Pandya knows how to command a large audience. There are few experiences that compare to leading an IPL team to the final in their home city. In Titans' maiden season, Pandya was also captaining his team to the final. It was also GT's first match at home, in front of a sold-out crowd at the world's largest cricket stadium, with members of the Indian cricket fraternity in attendance. Even the most experienced captains can be shaken by the situation. Pandya, on the other hand, strolled out confidently and calmly, as if it were just another game.
That was far from the case. Pandya plucked out Rajasthan Royals' three top hitters on a historic day for his Gujarat Titans, limiting them to a below-par 130/9 and guiding his team to a seven-wicket triumph before celebrating with fans.
The Titans skipper bowled four overs in a row for only 17 runs, dismissing opposing captain Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler, and Shimron Hetmyer to end the Royals' innings. Rashid Khan, the leg-spinner, was outstanding once again. With a 4-0-18-0 spell, he piled on the pressure.