Follow UsGujarat Titans' wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha felt that his team have proved their doubters wrong by the winning the IPL trophy in their debut season. GT who were the second new team alongside Lucknow Super Giants lifted the IPL 2022 by beating Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets in the final on Sunday.
Saha felt that the title is an answer to the people who did not have confidence in the team after the mega auction.
"This is my 5th final and the 2nd final I have won, someone said our team was not good after the auctions, but we proved them wrong," Saha said before the trophy presentation ceremony.
Pacer Mohammad Shami, who claimed 20 wickets from 16 matches, said that his first-ball wicket of KL Rahul in their first match against LSG set the tone for the rest of their campaign.
"We needed to start the tournament well and set up a template for the team. The idea was only to start well for the team, concentrate on the line and length," he said.
Australian keeper-batter Matthew Wade heaped praise on the leadership of Hardik Pandya and Rashid Khan for keeping the dressing room calm.
"Just the team environment, relaxing environment, Hardik, Rashid were leading from the front. It was a family atmosphere, everyone felt welcome, Ashish (Nehra) ensured that. Here everyone gets net time, everyone gets a chance. It has been amazing, hopefully we can come back next year in front of these fans," Wade said.
Rashid, who won his first-ever IPL title, was ecstatic with the result as he praised opener Shubman Gill for taking them over the line with an unbeaten 45 off 43 balls.
"Everyone had to take responsibility, we did well to come back well in the middle overs. He (Shubman Gill) is the only guy whom we didn't want to bowl to and I'm happy that he's part of our team, Biggest achievement of your career is to be part of a winning IPL team. You always want to do well in big competitions like this," the Afghanistan spinner said.
Gill, who played some scintillating knocks in the tournament, was pleased that he helped his team get over the line.
"It means a lot. After winning the under-19 World Cup, winning the IPL is just as big. It is my fourth year. I wanted to be there till the end and that was the talk with the coaches. Glad I took them over the line," the opener said.
It's been a phenomenal journey: Miller
David Miller, who pulled off multiple tough chases for Gujarat including the final, reflected on a fruitful season where he scored 481 runs from 16 innings at a strike rate of 142.7.
"It’s been a phenomenal journey, finishing it at the back end was a special feeling, but it has been a collective effort, everyone has stuck up their hand and performed well," the South African said.
Rahul Tewatia, who showcased his hitting prowess throughout the season yet again, said that he had no individual targets besides winning the title with the team.
"I don't know about the party, when at the beginning of the season, someone asked me what were my goals, I told them there was no personal goals but it will be great if we could win. It was a new team, new environment and don't know about the party tonight but I won't be sleeping," he said.
Tewatia hailed the team management for backing Miller and himself as it gave them the confidence to pull off seemingly improbable chases.
"After the auctions there were saying our team had batsmen short, experienced batsmen short but the way the management backed David [Miller] and me was good. The captain trusts me and keeps telling me to trust your game and keep finishing like you do," he said.