Captain Hardik Pandya’s wish came true, leaving behind ‘elder brother’ in the very first season
Hardik won his fifth IPL trophy
The truth is Hardik won his fifth IPL trophy when he led Gujarat Titans to victory in their first season on Sunday. Hardik impressed with bat and ball as GT defeated Rajasthan Royals by 7 wickets in a one-sided final in Ahmedabad. Gujarat Titans is really a hard losing team under Hardik’s captaincy.
Even though it was the first trophy as captain
A regular appearance for 5-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians, Hardik scored 487 runs and took 8 wickets throughout the season, including 3 for 17 in the final against Royals. Hardik Pandya’s knock of 34 off 30 balls proved to be crucial in Gujarat Titans’ chase of 131 runs. It was Hardik’s first IPL trophy as captain, but this all-rounder is no stranger to winning the IPL championship.
but beat Dhoni
As part of the Mumbai Indians core group of players, Hardik Pandya won the IPL in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020. Another Mumbai Indians legend, Kieron Pollard, having been a part of the team in all their IPL victories, Ambati Rayudu won 5 IPL titles for two different teams- Mumbai Indians (3) and Chennai Super Kings (2). Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni and former MI fast bowler Lasith Malinga have won 4 IPL titles. In this way Hardik has overtaken Dhoni.
wish came true in this season
Hardik had expressed his desire to achieve the same success as Dhoni before the start of the season. This wish was fulfilled in this season and in the coming season GT will come again with great hope.
The list of most IPL trophies is topped by Rohit Sharma who won the championship with Deccan Chargers in 2009, apart from leading Mumbai Indians to 5 titles in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020.
Third captain to win man of the match
Apart from this, Hardik was adjudged man of the match for his all-round performance in the final match. He became only the third captain after Rohit Sharma and Anil Kumble to win the award in an IPL final. While Rohit won the award in IPL 2015, Anil Kumble in 2009.
Joined the special list of captains
Hardik also joined the special list by becoming the fourth Indian to win an IPL title as a captain. Hardik joins the list of Rohit Sharma (five titles with Mumbai Indians), MS Dhoni (four titles with Chennai Super Kings) and Gautam Gambhir (two titles with Kolkata Knight Riders).
