IPL 2022 | Qualifier 1 | GT vs RR | Superstar and Underperformer of the match

IPL 2022 has reached its business end, and the all-important Qualifier 1 saw the table-toppers Gujarat Titans (GT) go up against second-placed Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

The Titans put up a clinical performance to win the match by seven wickets with three balls remaining. As per expectation, none of the players wanted to let the opportunity go by and hence, we remained witness to some outstanding performances by the players involved. 

Jos Buttler's brilliant knock of 89 runs off 56 balls helped RR put up a 188 runs total on the board in their 20 overs. He struggled a touch in the initial phase but did manage to boost his strike rate and produce a masterclass under pressure.

The chase from Gujarat also remained witness to some great batting performances. David Miller scored 68 runs off 38 balls and took his team to a stunning victory. Though Miller was the highest scorer for the Titans, the Superstar of the Match for us is Hardik Pandya.

First, let us look at how Pandya constructed his innings in the all-important chase.

Hardik Pandya’s Strike Rate vs RR

Hardik Pandya walked out to bat when the team's score was 72 for 2 in 7.4 overs. Soon the score became 85 for 3 in 9.3 overs. The RR bowlers were stringing some economical overs at this stage and creeping back into the match. What Pandya did was he counter-attacked the bowlers at the beginning of his knock. This brought back momentum in GT's innings.

Pandya's onslaught also allowed Miller sometime at the beginning of his stay, something which Miller likes before he gets going. As Miller began to settle down, Hardik toned himself down and started playing the role of the anchor. A perfectly mature knock and batting according to the demand of the hour makes Hardik Pandya the 'Superstar of the Match.'

Underperformer of the Match: RR bowlers were given a formidable total of 189 runs to defend. They were permitted to give away up to nine runs per over. But the bowling attack lacked potency and failed to control the scoring rate.

At one stage, the Titans lost two very quick wickets. The score at this stage was 85 for 3 in 9.3 overs. What was required at this stage was bowling some good lines and lengths and letting the pressure mount on the GT batters. 

Sanju Samson hoped that his spin duo of Ashwin and Yuzi Chahal would apply the brakes on GT's scoring rate and also pick up some wickets. But the duo looked off colour and failed to repay the faith their skipper showed in them.

Yuzi and Ash shared eight overs between them. They gave away 72 runs in those overs at an economy of 9 runs per over and failed to pick up any wicket. This performance by the two most important bowlers of the team went a long way in RR losing the match. On the other hand, the failure of the spinners to live up to the expectations makes Ashwin and Chahal the "Underperformers of the Match."