STATS HIGHLIGHTS
Follow UsAfter 74 matches in the 15th edition of the IPL, Gujarat, the newbies have emerged as the winners with authority. Rajasthan were never in the game after they set a target of 131. By virtue of their win, Gujarat became the second team after Rajasthan in 2008 to win a title in their inaugural season. Some stats from the Finals:
Buttler surpasses Warner to stand second
It has been a memorable season for Jos Buttler. At one point of time, he had the chance to come close to Virat Kohli’s monumental season of 973 runs in 2016. However, a lackluster second half in the league stages (last seven of the league), saw Buttler fall short by 110 runs.
In any case, Buttler’s 863 runs in the 2022 edition of the IPL, are the second most runs scored by a batter in a season. To add more, Buttler has hit the most fours (83), most sixes (45) and has faced the most dot balls (230) this season. He is the first player to have the most dot balls and the most sixes in a season of IPL.
Chahal spins a web
After not being retained by Royal Challengers Bangalore, Yuzvendra Chahal was drafted by Rajasthan in the auction. The wily leg-spinner made merry. Chahal had led the Purple cap race for a long time in the first half. However, Wanindu Hasaranga of Bangalore caught up to him. While both spinners were going hand in hand with each other, Chahal extended his lead in the Finals with the wicket of Hardik Pandya.
In a season of IPL, his 27 wickets are the most for a spinner. Imran Tahir in 2019 for Chennai Super Kings had 26 wickets, which was broken by Chahal in the finals. Among Indians, only Harshal Patel (32) in 2021 had more wickets than Chahal.
Captains day out
Hardik had won four titles as a player for Mumbai Indians. This season was different as he led a new franchise. In a match that mattered the most, the skipper stepped up with a sensational spell in the first innings. He dismissed Sanju Samson, Buttler and Shimron Hetmyer to cripple Rajasthan’s batting. His spell of 3/17 is the second best by a pacer in the IPL Final.
To add on his all-round abilities, he scored a crucial knock of 34 from 30 balls. By virtue of his double, he became only the second player to bag three-plus wickets and score 30+ runs in a Final. Interestingly, the other player was Yusuf Pathan (3/22 & 56 (39)) in Rajasthan’s campaign winning season in 2008.
Rajasthan slump to the 2nd lowest first innings total in a final
Led by their captain Hardik, Gujarat bowlers were at their best in the Finals once again. Along with Hardik’s three-wicket haul, Sai Kishore (2 wickets), Rashid Khan with one wicket at an economy of 4.5 and Yash Dayal’s spell of 1/18 in three overs, saw Rajasthan post a paltry total of 130/9.
In an IPL Final, only Mumbai (129/8) in 2017 against the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiants, had posted a lower total than Rajasthan’s 130/9. Interestingly, Mumbai had won that encounter by one run.
Orange Cap and Purple Cap in the same team, still no title
Buttler with 863 runs and Chahal with 27 wickets, Rajasthan had both Orange Cap and the Purple Cap winner in their side. But, that wasn’t enough to win a title.
In the IPL, this is only the third season in which both Orange Cap and Purple Cap winners have been in the same team. Michael Hussey (733) and Dwayne Bravo (32) in 2013 for Chennai Super Kings and David Warner (641) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (26) in 2017 for Sunrisers Hyderabad, are the other two seasons. Co-incidentally, in none of the three seasons, their teams won the title. Chennai in 2013, ended up as the runners and Hyderabad in 2017, exited in the Eliminator.
The first ever final without a 50+ score
Across the 14 seasons of the IPL, prior to this, in each of the Finals, there had been at least one batter who had scored a 50+. However, this season witnessed the first ever Final without a 50+ score by a batter. Shubman Gill with an unbeaten 45 off 43 balls, was the highest runs scorer in the Finals.
