Hello and welcome to Sportstar’s LIVE coverage of the IPL 2022 final between Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans from the Narendra Modi International Stadium in Ahmedabad.
GT 5/0 in 1 over: Out come Saha and Gill. Trent Boult to take the new ball. Length ball on leg and Saha hops and tucks it away on leg-side. Dot ball. Short of a length and cut straight to point. Two dot balls to start with. Pushed to cover and a brilliant stop by Jaiswal; just a single. Dropped! Gill flicks this straight to square leg and Chahal leaps in front and drops it. FOUR! Strays on the pads and this is whipped away to the fine-leg boundary for a boundary by Gill.
RAJASTHAN ROYALS 130/9 IN 20 OVERS
RR 130/9 in 20 overs: Shami darts a full toss but Parag cannot get it away. Dot to start the last over. Full on the pads and Parag squeezes it behind square for a couple and makes it as the throw goes wide at the non-striker’s end. FOUR! Parag makes room outside off and cuts this over point for a boundary. Smashed down the ground back to Shami, it ricochets off the bowler and goes to long-off. They come back for the second but McCoy is short of his crease. OUT! Obed McCoy run out (Rahul Tewatia/ Mohammed Shami) 8(5b 1×6). Slower one and it is a dot. OUT! Bowled him. The yorker uproots Parag’s off stump. Riyan Parag b Mohammed Shami 15(15b 1×4).
RR 123/7 in 19 overs: Yorker outside off and dug out by Parag for one. Dayal with the bowl. McCoy goes for a big one on leg-side but edges it to third man for a single. Another accurate yorker angling across outside off. Parag jams it into the ground. Parag steps out and drills this to extra cover for one. McCoy pulls to fine-leg for another single.
RR 120/7 in 18 overs: Kishore continues. Boult makes room and lifts this over extra cover for a couple. SIX! Miscued heave, Miller takes it at long-on but then steps over the boundary cushion. OUT! And gone! Boult goes aerial again but this time finds deep extra cover. Trent Boult c Rahul Tewatia b Sai Kishore 11(7b 1×6). McCoy punches between cover and point for a single. Parag collects one more with a drive to long-on. SIX! Swept by McCoy over deep square leg for a flat maximum.
RR 104/6 in 17 overs: Ferguson returns. The first one is full on the pads and flicked away for a single. Single down the ground by Boult and 100 runs up in 16.2 overs. Two more singles to follow. Whipped off the pads again for a single at deep mid-wicket by Parag. Boult muscles this to mid-on for just one.
RR 98/6 in 16 overs: Kishore into the attack. He keeps it slow and just two singles off the first two. One more next ball. Pushed off the pads by Parag for one more. OUT! Kishore gets Ashwin. He steps out and to clear the straight boundary but find the fielder at long-on. Ravichandran Ashwin c David Miller b R Sai Kishore 6(9b). Boult comes in. Dot to end.
RR 94/5 in 15 overs: Hardik bowls out. Length dragged by Hetmyer to long-on for a single. Ashwin pulls to fine-leg for one more. FOUR! Finally a boundary. Hetmyer makes room outside off and lifts this over mid-off for a boundary. Hetmyer makes room again but fails to connect the ramp shot. FOUR! Fullish outside off and steered by Hetmyer to the third man boundary. OUT! Hetmyer looks to flick this on leg side but ends up handing a catch back to the bowler. Shimron Hetmyer c & b Hardik Pandya 11(12b 2×4). Hardik ends up 4-0-17-3, the best figures by an Indian pacer in an IPL final.
RR 84/4 in 14 overs: Rashid bowls out. Beats Ashwin’s outside edge first ball with the legbreak. Full on the pads and whipped away to long-on for a single. Hetmyer defends this back to the bowler with a straight bat. Ripper and beaten! Spin away and beats Hetmyer’s defensive bat. Hetmyer takes a big stride to counter the turn and flicks it for a single at mid-wicket. Rashid ends with 4-0-18-1.
RR 82/4 in 13 overs: Hardik into his third over. OUT! Buttler goes and the captain takes the big wicket. Length ball and Buttler gets a faint outside edge to the keeper as he goes prodding outside off. Jos Buttler c Wriddhiman Saha b Hardik Pandya 39(35b 5×4). Ashwin comes in and starts off by defending to mid-off. Short of a length, angling into Ashwin and pushed off the backfoot for a single at mid-on. Vicious bouncer and Hetmyer ducks under it. Miscued pull next ball and just a single at square leg for Hetmyer. Another length ball angling into Ashwin and dabbed to short third for one. Sensational spell for Hardik – 3-0-7-2 so sar.
RR 79/3 in 12 overs: Rashid back. Spinning away outside off and Padikkal only manages a single after miscuing a pull to long-on. One more for Buttler next ball. Cut away by Padikkal for one more at sweeper cover. Low full toss and pushed to long-on for another single. OUT! Padikkal is gone! Cut this straight to short third. Devdutt Padikkal c Mohammed Shami b Rashid Khan 2(10b). Another googly turning away outside off and Hetmyer misses.
RR 75/2 in 11 overs: Hardik will continue. Length, a touch outside off and Buttler bisects cover and point for a couple of runs. Defended to cover for a dot ball. Full on middle and leg and thumped over the bowler for one more. Padikkal steps out to hammer this short one on leg-side but is cramped for room and ends up thumping it back to the bowler. Good bouncer at 1433 kmph and Padikkal cannot connect the pull shot. Tucked off the hips for a leg-bye and Padikkal still hasn’t got off the mark after facing seven balls.
RR 71/2 in 10 overs: Full and straight by Shami, shaping in a bit and driven back to the bowler by Buttler. A couple of runs for Buttler at sweeper cover and Buttler has gone past Warner as the second-highest run-scorer in a single IPL season. FOUR! Short and this is pulled away to the square leg fence. FOUR! Full and driven away past mid-off for another boundary by Buttler. Moves to 33 runs off 27 balls. Yorker dug out to mid-on for a quick single. 11 runs from the Shami over.
RR 60/2 in 9 overs: Hardik to bowl. Short and wide outside off, Buttler jumps to cut this over point for a single. OUT! Slightly short, Samson gets a top edge on the pull and this is taken easily at point. The skipper goes. Sanju Samson c R Sai Kishore b Hardik Pandya 14(11b 2×4). Padikkal comes in and is beaten first ball with one that angles away outside off. Length onto the pads and tucked on leg-side for another dot ball. Beaten again! Another lagging length and angles away and Padikkal pokes outside off and misses. Dot to end the over.
RR 59/1 in 8 overs: Rashid into his second over. First ball is pushed between cover and point for one. Full and middle and driven down the ground for a single at long-off. Leg-break, turning away outside off and beaten. Single next ball. Turning into Samson on a length, he goes back to push this to mid-on for one more. Five singles from the over. TIME OUT!
RR 54/1 in 7 overs: Ferguson continues. Full just outside off and Samson digs this out straight to mid-off. Low full toss wide outside off and sliced to deep point for one. Length ball outside off and Buttler is beaten trying to slap this away between cover and point. FOUR! Another full one and pierced by Buttler just over extra cover fielder for a boundary. FOUR! Buttler is liking the pace and this is cut over point for another four. Fifty runs up for RR in 6.5 overs. Pushed to mid-off for a quick single.
RR 44/1 in 6 overs: FOUR! Horrible misfield by Kishore at extra cover and this has gone to the boundary, off Samson’s backfoot punch. Rashid is not too pleased. Two singles to follow. Rashid keeps his length on his side of the pitch. Samson goes inside his crease to push this on legs-side for one more. Dot to end the over.
RR 37/1 in 5 overs: Ferguson into the attack. Full outside off first ball and driven by Buttler straight to point. Slower one on the stumps and tapped to mid-off for a quick single by Buttler. FOUR! First ball boundary for Samson. Fullish, Samson works with the pace to just clear mid-on for a boundary. Cut away behind to third man for one next ball. Yorker, wide outside off, Buttler has to get low to get bat to this but misses. Ferguson runs in, and Buttler backs away due to some disturbance behind the bowler probably. 157.3 kmph, Ferguson has bowled the fastest of this season, and this yorker beats Buttler.
RR 31/1 in 4 overs: Jaiswal steers this to third man and Buttler dives to just make it at the striker’s end. Just a single. Length ball on leg, and Buttler whisks this away for one at mid-wicket. Bouncer and beaten! Next one is full outside off and Jaiswal drills this over point for two more. SIX! Short and pulled away over fine-leg for a maximum. OUT! Pulled away again and this pull has gone slightly high off the bat and it is taken by Sai at deep square leg. Yashasvi Jaiswal c Sai Kishore b Yash Dayal 22(16b 1×4 2×6).
RR 21/0 in 3 overs: Single first ball for Buttler. Another one angling sharply into Jaiswal and he is beaten trying to pull. FOUR! Jaiswal gets under this full one and hauls it over mid-off for his first boundary. Wild swing and a miss outside off next ball. SIX! Full outside off and Jaiswal lofts this over the covers for a sublime maximum. Pulled away over mid-wicket, the ball looses its feet just before reaching the boundary, Rashid Khan pulls it back in and batters collect three runs.
RR 7/0 in 2 overs: Dayal from the other end. Over the wicket to Buttler, angling away outside off and left in the channel. Back of a length on leg and Buttler hops to defend this. FOUR! Length ball outside off and carved away behind point for the first boundary of the over. Slightly fuller next ball, still outside off and pushed straight to mid-off. Short and slow, Buttler jams the pull into the ground and fetches a single behind square leg. Beaten! Shortish, angling in on leg, and Jaiswal misses the pull and the ball falls around his toes off the pads and he is left frantically looking for the ball.
RR 2/0 in 1 over: The umpires make their way to the ground. The Titans are in a huddle and the openers have also come out. Shami has the new ball for Titans. Shami to Jaiswal. Around the wicket. On a length, angling in and pushed off the backfoot to mi-off. Angling in further on leg, going down leg from middle stump and Jaiswal misses the flick. One leg-bye. Buttler gently nudges this to mid-one for one more. Quite wide outside off, short of a length and left by Jasiwal. Swinging in again and Jaiswal flicks this just short of square leg. Vicious short ball, coming into the body and Jaiswal is cramped for room.
19:55 IST: The national anthem is playing at the stadium ahead of the final. Both teams have assembled in the middle. All done with the anthem and Buttler and Jaiswal will soon walk out to open the innings for Rajasthan.
MATCH-UPS
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Jos Buttler vs Mohammed Shami in IPL Runs: 66; Out: 1; Strike Rate: 143.47; 4s: 10; 6s: 2. Jos Buttler vs Lockie Ferguson in IPL Runs: 6; Out: 1; Strike Rate: 300.00; 4s: 0; 6s:1. Jos Buttler vs Rashid Khan in IPL Runs: 24; Out: 3 Strike Rate: 61.53; 4s: 0; 6s:0. |
WHAT THE CAPTAINS SAID
Hardik Pandya: We would have bowled first. It is fantastic to see so many people coming to support us. We have the opportunity to be heroes and this is the time for us. Qualifying early and having a break does help calm your nerves down. We have focused as a group, be as normal as possible and play our ‘A’ game. People of Gujarat are very loyal, very excited for it.
Sanju Samson: We will bat first. Looks like a good wicket. A bit dry and that’s why we will bat first. It is a used wicket and might help our spinners in the second innings. We are all positive and excited. Playing in front of this crowd is exciting.
RR VS GT PLAYING XI
Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (c) (wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna, Obed McCoy, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Gujarat Titans: Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Shubman Gill, Matthew Wade, Hardik Pandya (c), David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Lockie Ferguson, Yash Dayal, Mohammed Shami.
TOSS: Samson and Hardik are out for the toss in the middle. Rajasthan Royals wins the toss and elects to bat. Royals are unchanged. Hardik Pandya says he would have bowled first. So both captains are happy. Lockie Ferguson replaces Alzarri Joseph in the playing XI.
PITCH REPORT: Same pitch as the one used for Qualifier 2. There will be extra bounce today, as seen in the RR vs RCB game. The boundaries are just slightly lopsided. Simon Doull reckons the team batting first should put on 180-190 runs and reminds us that the team batting first has won nine out of 14 finals so far.
19:20 IST: The toss is just 10 minutes away. The coin has so far only gone Samson’s way on three occasions out of 16, while Hardik Pandya has won 10 tosses out of 15 in IPL 2022.
19:10 IST: The closing ceremony has come to a close and the players are out for their pre-match routine.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals will have a distinguished group cheering them on in the final today.
19:00 IST: AR Rahman has now taken over from Ranveer Singh.
18:35 IST: The IPL has entered the Guinness Book of World Records for the biggest cricket jersey in the world. Ranveer Singh has begun his performance at the closing ceremony.
17:49 IST: The Narendra Modi Stadium gears up for the closing ceremony.
GT VS RR DREAM11 FANTASY PREDICTION
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Wicketkeeper: Jos Buttler (c), Sanju Samson Batters: David Miller, Shubman Gill, Devdutt Padikkal All-rounders: Hardik Pandya (vc), Ravichandran Ashwin Bowlers: Rashid Khan, Mohammed Shami, Trent Boult, Obed McCoy Team composition: RR 6:5 GT Credits Left: 0.5 |
Here is a look at the records of both captain in IPL playoffs. While Hardik Pandya has an unbeaten record in IPL finals – winning on all four occasions he has turned up in a summit clash for Mumbai Indians – Sanju Samson will feature in an IPL final for the very first time.
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Hardik Pandya in IPL finals (overall): Batting: MT: 4, Runs: 29, Highest Score: 16, Average: 7.25, 4s – 1, 6s- 2 Bowling: Overs bowled: 5, Economy: 7.80, Wickets: 0, Runs Conceded: 39 Hardik Pandya in IPL Playoffs (overall): Batting: MT: 10, Runs: 134, Highest Score: 40*, Average: 22.33, 4s – 8, 6s- 8, SR – 148.88 Bowling: Overs bowled:11, Wickets: 1, Economy: 7.72, Runs Conceded: 85 |
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Sanju Samson in IPL Playoffs (overall): Batting: MT: 6, Runs: 135, Highest Score: 50, Average: 22.50, 4s – 10, 6s- 7, 50s – 1, Strike Rate: 116.37 |
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RAJASTHAN ROYALS TOSS HISTORY IN IPL 2022 TOSSES WON: 3/16 TOSSES LOST: 13/16 MATCHES WON AFTER WINNING TOSS: 2/3 MATCHES WON AFTER LOSING TOSS: 8/13 RR VS RCB – RR WON THE TOSS – RR CHOSE TO BAT – RR WON BY SEVEN WICKETS RR VS GT – RR LOST THE TOSS – RR FORCED TO BAT – RR LOST BY SEVEN WICKETS RR VS SRH – RR LOST THE TOSS – RR FORCED TO BAT – RR WON BY 61 RUNS RR VS MI – RR LOST THE TOSS – RR FORCED TO BAT – RR WON BY 23 RUNS RR VS RCB – RR LOST THE TOSS – RR FORCED TO BAT – RR LOST BY FOUR WICKETS RR VS LSG – RR LOST THE TOSS – RR FORCED TO BAT – RR WON BY THREE RUNS RR VS GT – RR WON THE TOSS – RR CHOSE TO FIELD – RR LOST BY 37 RUNS RR VS KKR- RR LOST THE TOSS – RR FORCED TO BAT – RR WON BY SEVEN RUNS RR VS DC – RR LOST THE TOSS – RR FORCED TO BAT – RR WON BY 15 RUNS RR VS RCB – RR LOST THE TOSS – RR FORCED TO BAT – RR WON BY 29 RUNS RR VS MI – RR LOST THE TOSS – RR FORCED TO BAT – RR LOST BY FIVE WICKETS RR VS KKR – RR LOST THE TOSS – RR FORCED TO BAT – RR LOST BY SEVEN WICKETS RR VS PBKS – RR LOST THE TOSS – RR FORCED TO FIELD – RR WON BY SIX WICKETS RR VS DC – RR LOST THE TOSS – RR FORCED TO BAT – RR LOST BY EIGHT WICKETS RR VS LSG- RR WON THE TOSS – RR CHOSE TO BAT – RR WON BY 24 RUNS RR VS CSK – RR LOST THE TOSS – RR FORCED TO FIELD – RR WON BY FIVE WICKETS |
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GUJARAT TITANS TOSS HISTORY IN IPL 2022 TOSSES WON: 10/15 TOSSES LOST: 5/15 MATCHES WON AFTER WINNING TOSS: 7/10 MATCHES WON AFTER LOSING TOSS: 4/5 GT VS RR – GT WON THE TOSS – GT CHOSE TO FIELD – GT WON BY SEVEN WICKETS GT VS LSG – GT WON THE TOSS – GT CHOSE TO FIELD – GT WON BY FIVE WICKETS GT VS DC – GT LOST THE TOSS – GT FORCED TO BAT – GT WON BY 14 RUNS GT VS PBKS – GT WON THE TOSS – GT CHOSE TO FIELD – GT WON BY SIX WICKETS GT VS SRH – GT LOST THE TOSS – GT FORCED TO BAT – GT LOST BY EIGHT WICKETS GT VS RR – GT LOST THE TOSS – GT FORCED TO BAT – GT WON BY 37 RUNS GT VS CSK – GT WON THE TOSS – GT CHOSE TO FIELD – GT WON BY THREE WICKETS GT VS KKR – GT WON THE TOSS – GT CHOSE TO BAT – GT WON BY EIGHT RUNS GT VS SRH – GT WON THE TOSS – GT CHOSE TO FIELD – GT WON BY FIVE WICKETS GT VS RCB – GT LOST THE TOSS – GT FORCED TO FIELD – GT WON BY SIX WICKETS GT VS PBKS – GT WON THE TOSS – GT CHOSE TO BAT – GT LOST BY EIGHT WICKETS GT VS MI – GT WON THE TOSS – GT CHOSE TO FIELD – GT LOST BY FIVE RUNS GT VS LSG – GT WON THE TOSS – GT CHOSE TO BAT – GT WON BY 62 RUNS GT VS CSK – GT LOST THE TOSS – GT FORCED TO FIELD – GT WON BY SEVEN WICKETS GT VS RCB – GT WON THE TOSS – GT CHOSE TO BAT – GT LOST BY EIGHT WICKETS |
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GUJARAT TITANS – ROAD TO THE FINAL PLAYOFFS Qualifier 1: Beat Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets LEAGUE STAGE Beat Lucknow Super Giants by five wickets Beat Delhi Capitals by 14 runs Beat Punjab Kings by six wickets Lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad by eight wickets Beat Rajasthan Royals by 37 runs Beat Chennai Super Kings by three wickets Beat Kolkata Knight Riders by eight runs Beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by five wickets Beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by six wickets Lost to Punjab Kings by eight wickets Lost to Mumbai Indians by five runs Beat Lucknow Super Giants by 62 runs Beat Chennai Super Kings by seven wickets Lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore by eight wickets |
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RAJASTHAN ROYALS – ROAD TO THE FINAL PLAYOFFS Qualifier 1: Lost to Gujarat Titans by seven wickets Qualifier 2: Beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by seven wickets LEAGUE STAGE Beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 61 runs Beat Mumbai Indians by 23 runs Lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore by four wickets Beat Lucknow Super Giants by three runs Lost to Gujarat Titans by 37 runs Beat Kolkata Knight Riders by seven runs Beat Delhi Capitals by 15 runs Beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 29 runs Lost to Mumbai Indians by five wickets Lost to Kolkata Knight Riders by seven wickets Beat Punjab Kings by six wickets Lost to Delhi Capitals by eight wickets Beat Lucknow Super Giants by 24 runs Beat Chennai Super Kings by five wickets |
MATCH PREVIEW
What did Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals get right in this edition of the Indian Premier League? Quite a few things.
For new entrant Titans, it was a challenge to start from scratch. Under the leadership of Hardik Pandya, the team could identify its potential key players and plan accordingly.
Even though quite a few other franchises splurged on big names in the mega-auction in February, Titans’ approach was unique – it went for David Miller, who many thought had past his prime; Rahul Tewatia, who looked rather pale after his six-hitting spree in Sharjah, two summers ago; and India discard Wriddhiman Saha.
The choices were baffling back then. But with its core revolving around Hardik, Shubman Gill and Rashid Khan, the Titans think-tank knew that it was taking a calculated risk by putting its money on the old warhorses. And after two months of cricket, it is evident that the strategy paid off; not only have Miller, Saha and Tewatia delivered, they have also guided the team to its first-ever IPL final, to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday, against the Royals.
Long wait
After 2008, it has been a long wait for the Royals to reach another final. The ‘Men in Pink’ aim to rewrite history and pay a fitting tribute to their ‘first Royal’ Shane Warne, who passed away in March. Returning to the fold in 2018 after a two-year suspension, the Royals relied heavily on the superstars from England and Australia who would essentially form their core.
ALSO READ – Jos Buttler – repaying the Royals’ faith
While Steve Smiths, Ben Stokes and others earned big money, the Royals struggled in the points table, forcing the management to get over its obsession to pick players from England and Australia and to look at building a solid core of Indian players. Royals eventually got lucky at the auction as it could rope in the top two Indian spinners – R. Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal.
A close-knit group
The inclusion of Trent Boult and Prasidh Krishna bolstered Royals’ pace department. And among batters, it could rope in Devdutt Padikkal and Shimron Hetmyer while already retaining Sanju Samson and Jos Buttler. The biggest challenge was to make things work and under the guidance of head coach Kumar Sangakkara, the Royals have looked like a closely knit unit.
ALSO READ – The resurgence of ‘Killer Miller’
Those ‘little suggestions’ by Sangakkara helped the team and how! Coming after months of almost no training, Buttler let the willow do the talking and went on to don the Orange Cap, emerging as a match-winner. Chahal and Ashwin had their off days, but when they found their mojo, they made sure that they put the opponents on the mat. And the lively Hetmyer changed things in the middle-order.
So, all in all, the Royals could come out of their ‘top-heavy’ shadow and rebuild. The way Buttler returned to form after a series of disappointments or the way Prasidh bounced back with three wickets in the second qualifier against Royal Challengers Bangalore despite being taken to the cleaners by Miller in the previous game only explains the philosophy of the camp – accept the result and move on.
Prasidh v Miller, Buttler v Rashid
However, the final will be a different ball game. With a packed stadium and plenty of fireworks – both on and off the field – expected, the teams will need to hold their nerves and ensure that they don’t choke under pressure.
It will be interesting to see how Prasidh executes the plans against a rampaging Miller and how Ashwin and Chahal come up with a plan for Hardik. And, of course, all eyes will be on how Buttler handles Rashid.
With the city witnessing an IPL final for the first time and a team from Gujarat featuring in the final, the expectations have already sky-rocketed. Prior to the final, there will be a glitzy closing ceremony, attended by Bollywood superstars. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to attend the final. There will be a special show marking the journey of Indian cricket over the last 75 years.
Amid all the glitz and glamour, two young captains will be taking the field with determination and hope. Over the last two months, both Sanju and Hardik battled all odds, ducked all criticisms to bring their respective teams so far.
It doesn’t matter who wins or loses in the end, but remember the efforts by the Royals. Remember the Titans!
WHERE AND WHEN TO WATCH RR VS GT IPL 2022 FINAL LIVE?
| The IPL 2022 final between Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans will be aired LIVE on the Star Sports Network at 8:00 PM IST. The match will also be live streamed on Disney+Hotstar. |