IPL 2022 Final, GT vs RR: No MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli but a title clash worth its weight in gold

IPL 2022 Final, GT vs RR: Gujarat Titans take on Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2022 final on Sunday evening. And while they battle it out in the title clash, Hardik Pandya and Sanju Samson will create a bit of history.

Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals in the final of IPL 2022. Two months ago, this line-up for the title clash would have sounded unreal and yet here they are - two teams who have defied expectations in a tournament studded with surprises and shocks.

Mumbai Indians, the most successful IPL team in history, were the first to be knocked out of the playoff race and Gujarat Titans, IPL debutants, were the first to make it to the last four. Chennai Super Kings, the defending champions, were never in with a chance after losing their first four matches and joined MI at the rear end of the points table.

Rajasthan Royals had won the inaugural edition of the IPL 14 years ago but in the subsequent seasons, there was little there apart from flashes of brilliance from one or two players.

Gujarat Titans: Road to Final

You could then be forgiven for not believing anyone who told you GT and RR would finish on top of the points table. The Titans won 10 of their league games and the Royals won nine. GT stormed into the final after defeating RR in Qualifier 2 while Rajasthan had to take a more circuitous route to get into the final and now these two teams will battle for glory in Ahmedabad.

This contest is truly special.

One team is led by an all-rounder many reckoned should have done a lot more by now given his talent but injury woes have kept Hardik Pandya from realising his true potential. As GT captain, Pandya promoted himself up the order and has enjoyed his best IPL season with the bat.