Preview | In its maiden IPL final, Gujarat Titans faces marauding Buttler’s Royals

Rajasthan Royals will look to the in-form Jos Buttler to inspire the team in its first IPL final since 2008, facing debutants Gujarat Titans, who have impressed by topping the table

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.

Gujarat skipper Hardik Pandya has established his side as the team to beat this year after topping the league table and storming into the final when they beat Rajasthan by seven wickets in the first play-off.

“It’s really going to be a tough challenge,” Rajasthan head coach Kumar Sangakkara said of the looming showdown. “(Pandya) is an exceptional player. He has led his side really well. They are an exceptional team, highly skilled, really well settled, performing at peak consistently through this entire tournament.”