IPL 2022 - First IPL season report card for Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants

The 15th edition of the Indian Premier League is filled with loads of excitement. One of the top most exciting things about the 2022 season of the IPL is the inclusion of 2 brand new franchises.

The Ahmedabad based franchise was named ‘Gujarat Titans’, led by all-rounder Hardik Pandya, while the Lucknow based franchise is called ‘Lucknow Super Giants’ and wicketkeeper batsman KL Rahul was appointed as its captain.

Let's take a look at how both the debuting franchises are doing so far in their first ever IPL season.

Gujarat Titans

Gujarat Titans started off their season by defeating the fellow debutant team Lucknow Super Giants. LSG’s openers couldn’t stand a chance in front of the fierce Mohammad Shami.

Since then GT picked up a winning momentum and carried it on for 3 matches straight, beating the giants like Delhi Capitals, who reached the finals of IPL 2020 and Punjab Kings, who have one of the best squads on paper. But GT wasn’t in any mood to fear any team.

That fearless attitude of GT helped them to win the last over clashes. Punjab Kings had to face the magic of Rahul Tewatia once again this season. When GT needed 12 runs off the last 2 balls, Odean Smith was taken for a ride by Tewatia and he smashed 2 big sixes to take his team towards the winning end.

Then GT faced SRH in their 4th title and that is when a clinical SRH handed GT their first ever IPL defeat.

GT picked themselves up pretty fast from their defeat and has started their winning streak once again, defeating the giants of the league like Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals. All these teams are the title winners.

In their 8th match of the season, GT faced their only defeater SRH once again and just when everyone thought that SRH would walk away giving GT another defeat with the help of Umran Malik’s fifer, Rashid Khan and Rahul Tewatia stepped up and went berserk on the SRH’s bowling attack.

SRH’s Marco Jansen was assigned to deliver the last over of the match but Rashid Khan ripped him apart and smashed three 6 sixes after 1 six from Rahul Tewatia on the 1st ball, to chase the remaining 22 runs in the last over.

Gujarat Titans are currently at the top of the table with 7 wins in 8 matches and they truly deserve the spot. Brownie points to Hardik Pandya for leading the team in such a fighting way. He is also the highest run scorer of the team with 305 runs in 7 innings at an average of 61.00. 

Lucknow Super Giants

Lucknow Super Giants is owned by RPSG Group who previously owned Rising Pune Supergiants in 2016 and 2017 season.

LSG picked KL Rahul, Marcus Stoinis and Ravi Bishnoi in the draft pick.

LSG started off their first ever IPL season on a losing note against GT, but they didn’t hold it on for long and went on to win the next 3 matches.

In the 2nd match, LSG faced one of the top IPL teams, Chennai Super Kings. CSK batted brilliantly and posted a target of 211 for the debuting team. LSG’s batting line-up was charged with enthusiasm for their first win of the IPL. Some fine knocks by the opening pair Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul, along with Evin Lewis and death over cameos by Deepak Hooda and Ayush Badoni handed LSG their first IPL in the best way possible.

With this win, LSG showed everyone that they have arrived.

In the next 6 matches, LSG defeated Mumbai Indians twice, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals and lost to Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The skipper KL Rahul is in amazing form having hit 2 centuries already. He has amassed 368 runs in 8 matches at an average of 61.33.

LSG is at the 4th spot currently with 5 wins in 8 matches so far.