Gujarat Titans
captain Hardik Pandya has been leading his side with incredible skill and
temperament in IPL 2022. GT, under Hardik Pandya, won five matches of their six
outings and currently occupies the second position on the points table. It seems
Hardik Pandya’s team will definitely make it to the playoffs in its maiden
season in the T20 league. Hardik, too, as a captain showed remarkable skills.

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In IPL 2022 when fielding after winning the toss became the norm, Hardik, on
Saturday, won the toss and opted to bat against Kolkata Knight Riders at the DY
Patil Stadium in Mumbai. With this decision, Hardik broke a 34-game unique
streak that started from Match 1 of the IPL 2022.

The all-rounder
became the first captain in the ongoing IPL to bat first after winning the
crucial toss against KKR. Before this game, captains of all franchises had won
the toss and opted to field.

This trend is
the result of the last seasons of the IPL when bowling first heavily benefited the teams
that fielded first. Of the 364 matches played in the IPL over the last six
years, the team batting second won 214 matches as compared to 150 games won by
the teams batting first.

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Talking about
this trend, former Indian Cricketer Saba Karim said: “The trend is quite
startling. It is similar to the national T20 trends. The emergence of strong
power hitters has propelled the teams to rework their strategy. They feel if
you have batters till No.5 or No.6, it is better to chase. In shorter formats,
the teams batting second have more chance to pull off a win.”

However, Hardik
Pandya’s side could only post 156 for 7 in 20 overs, with the captain himself
scoring 67 off 49 balls. Andre Russell picked up four wickets while Tim Southe
got three.

Also Read: IPL 2022: Virat Kohli dismissed for golden duck against Lucknow Super Giants

If Gujarat
Titans win today, their victory will add a new dimension to the debate of
captains’ choice of fielding first after winning the toss.