IPL Final: Gujarat Titans Brace Up For Fight Against Rajasthan Royals
NDTV
IPL Final: Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans will square off against Rajasthan Royals on Sunday evening at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad
Indian Premier League debutants Gujarat Titans will take on a Shane Warne-inspired Rajasthan Royals in Sunday's final, both teams eyeing a fairy tale victory after each enjoyed a dominant season run. Fourteen years ago, Warne led underdogs Rajasthan to glory in the marquee T20 tournament's inaugural season. This year they face another set of first-timers in the final of a season that began just weeks after the Australian spin legend's shock death.
"Shane Warne... is such an influential figure for the Rajasthan Royals and having led the team to success in that first season," said star batsman Jos Buttler.
"We will miss him dearly, but we know he is looking down on us with a lot of pride."
In-form Buttler led Rajasthan's fightback in the second qualifier to knock out Royal Challengers Bangalore and reach their first IPL final after they won the inaugural edition in 2008.
He equalled Virat Kohli's record of four tons in an IPL season with 106 not out during Rajasthan's chase, and leads the season's batting chart with 824 runs.