After two months of intense battle in the 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL), Gujarat Titans (GT) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) are set to battle for the big trophy in the summit clash of the 15th edition of the league at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium.
Ahead of the big clash, Punjab Kings (PBKS) batter Liam Livingstone sent a special message to both teams and remembered the late Shane Warne. RR are playing the final of the IPL for the first time after 2008 when Warne had led them to the title in the inaugural season of the T20 league.
“Good luck to both teams tonight the best two teams throughout the tournament in my opinion! @gujarat_titans vs @rajasthanroyals may the best team win! But there will be a certain guy looking down tonight very proud of his boys in pink! #IPLFinal,” said Livingstone in a tweet.
GT reached the final after beating RR in the first qualifier by seven wickets in a thrilling clash at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens. Following the setback, RR made the most of their second chance and thrashed Royal Challengers Bangal0re (RCB) to reach the summit clash for the first time in 14 years.
Post their win over RCB, Jos Buttler had paid tribute to Shane Warne and said the legendary Australian spinner is looking down on them with pride. “Great excitement to be able to play in the final of the biggest T20 tournament in the world.. it’s incredibly exciting. Shane Warne has been such an influential figure for Rajasthan Royals and having led the team to the title in the first season. We will miss him dearly but we know he is looking down on us with a lot of pride today,” said Buttler after receiving the Man of the match award.
Livingstone’s PBKS finished 6th in the 2022 edition. The English all-rounder had a season to remember as he scored 437 runs at a strike-rate of 182.08 and took six wickets with the ball.
Sanju Samson is hoping to become the second RR skipper after Warne to lift the IPL trophy. The first-ever IPL winning captain passed away earlier this year due to a suspected heart attack.
