“We are here to win” – Twitter explodes as Gujarat Titans are the first team to qualify for the playoffs
WATCH: Hardik Pandya’s distraught reaction after getting out caught behind
Ladies and Gentlemen, after 57 league matches, we have our first qualifiers for the playoffs in the IPL 2022. The new entrants, Gujarat Titans, have become the first team to qualify for the playoffs after defeating Lucknow Super Giants by 62 runs in the 57th match of the IPL 2022 at the MCA Stadium, Pune.
On Sunday, both teams locked horns in the top-of-the-table contest with a place in the playoffs on the line. Gujarat Titans’ skipper Hardik Pandya won the toss flip and asked the opposition to bat first on a tricky surface.
Lucknow Super Giants were superb with the bowl as they didn’t allow the opposition to break the shackles. They kept chipping wickets at the regular interval to contain the Titans for a below-par total of 144/4 in 20 overs.
The opener Shubman Gill was brilliant with the bat as the young Punjab-lad held one end with an unbeaten knock of 63 runs off 49 deliveries. He got some support at the death from Rahul Tewatia, who played a useful knock of unbeaten 22 runs off 16 deliveries to give bowlers something to fight for.
Gujarat Titans successfully defended the total to seal a berth in the playoffs
Defending the total, Gujarat Titans removed LSG’s two best batters, KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock, early to break the backbone of their batting. After that, they never allowed the opposition to settle in as Deepak Hooda top-scored for the Super Giants with 27 runs.
Such was the dominance of the Titans’ bowlers that only three batters, including Avesh Khan, reached the double-figures. In the end, Lucknow Super Giants were bundled out for paltry 82 runs to surrender a 62-run defeat.
With 9 wins in 12 matches, Gujarat Titans become the first team to qualify for the playoffs. They will now try to stay among the top two to qualify for the qualifiers first.
After the IPL 2022 got its first playoffs team, Twitter went into a frenzy. The fans appreciated Gujarat Titans and their skipper Hardik Pandya for their brilliant performances.
Check out the best tweets here:
Wow! #GujaratTitans..Just wow. That was some performance!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 10, 2022
https://twitter.com/cricketaakash/status/1524083325081915392
Gujarat Titans become the first team to qualify for the play-offs of IPL 2022.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 10, 2022
Gujaratis on top. Many congratulations to the franchise and the team for qualifying for the playoffs. Bowling was top class! @gujarat_titans
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) May 10, 2022
Well done @saik_99 ! What a debut. #GTvsLSG
— Abhinav Mukund (@mukundabhinav) May 10, 2022
Congratulations @gujarat_titans on qualifying for IPL play offs. First team to do this in this year’s IPL. Many had their doubts over them but their captain, players, coaches and support staff truly nailed it. #GTvsLSG #TATAIPL2022 pic.twitter.com/4Y243o66qq
— Amit Mishra (@MishiAmit) May 10, 2022
Awesome performance, First Team to qualify in their first season.Many Congratulations @gujarat_titans #TataIPL
— S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath) May 10, 2022
https://twitter.com/harbhajan_singh/status/1524078386225713152
Delighted for @gujarat_titans – A tale of second chances. A team made around experience not hype, basics over matchups. Expecting LSG to bounce back and cruise into the playoffs too. But congratulations GT, the team and management for a stellar show so far #GTvLSG
— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) May 10, 2022
Hardik after making GT the first team to qualify in his debut captaincy season: #GTvLSG #IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/hSQBeAE3F9
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) May 10, 2022
To be honest, not too many gave Gujarat much of a chance. But to win a game by 62, defending 144, against a side vying with them for the 1st slot, is incredible @gujarat_titans #GTvsLSG #IPL2022
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) May 10, 2022
First team to be qualified for #playoffs
Congratulations @gujarat_titans
Top class Bowling performance by you guys specially
@rashidkhan_19#AavaDe #GTvsLSG #TATAIPL2022 #IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/VMMepDCUcc— Munaf Patel (@munafpa99881129) May 10, 2022
https://twitter.com/YUVSTRONG12/status/1524079073395638272
Who would have thought that @gujarat_titans would be the first to qualify for play offs when auction happened ? In every game, they keep finding more than one heroes. Remarkable consistency. #IPL2022 #GTvsLSG #GTvLSG #RPSwing
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) May 10, 2022
