Hardik Pandya bagged the second best figures by a captain in an IPL final. (P.C.:iplt20.com)Gujarat Titans (GT) captain Hardik Pandya led from the front with the ball as the Rajasthan Royals (RR) could only muster 130/9 in their 20 overs in the IPL 2022 final in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Pandya ended with sensational figures of 3/17 to break the back of RR batting.Hardik Pandya got the big wickets of RR captain Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler and the dangerous Shimron Hetmyer. RR stuck to the theory of playing six specialist batters and five specialist bowlers, compromising on their batting depth.On the all-important day, RR's lack of batting depth was exposed by some brilliant bowling from GT. Fans hailed Hardik Pandya for finding his form with the ball.Some also trolled RR for being overdependent on their main batters throughout the tournament. Here are some of the reactions:Kieran@BerbaSpinCricThis could turn out to be a superb day for Indian cricket, one of the most under appreciated players over the last few years could finally get the credit he deserves - Hardik Pandya, a true rockstar cricketer!36023This could turn out to be a superb day for Indian cricket, one of the most under appreciated players over the last few years could finally get the credit he deserves - Hardik Pandya, a true rockstar cricketer!Johns.@CricCrazyJohnsHardik Pandya: 4-0-17-3 with the wickets of Buttler, Samson, Hetmyer - The engine room of Rajasthan.1795119Hardik Pandya: 4-0-17-3 with the wickets of Buttler, Samson, Hetmyer - The engine room of Rajasthan.Prajakta@18prajaktaWhat a clutch player, Hardik! And he isn’t spoken much about. What a captain, what a player!#GTvRR34313What a clutch player, Hardik! And he isn’t spoken much about. What a captain, what a player!#GTvRRMufaddal Vohra@mufaddal_vohraHardik Pandya has the second best bowling figures in the IPL Finals as a captain.A comeback to mark and remember by Hardik, in the biggest match of the season he steps up and does his job tremendously.127587Hardik Pandya has the second best bowling figures in the IPL Finals as a captain.A comeback to mark and remember by Hardik, in the biggest match of the season he steps up and does his job tremendously. https://t.co/7PL9q0QHk2Witty@WForHumanityIf you've seen Hardik bowl today and still put some other all rounder in this country in the same sentence as him, you probably need some treatment. Mental and belt both.3If you've seen Hardik bowl today and still put some other all rounder in this country in the same sentence as him, you probably need some treatment. Mental and belt both.Mufaddal Vohra@mufaddal_vohraWhat a spell by captain Hardik Pandya:4-0-17-3.- A blockbuster season for Hardik the All Rounder, India missed this Hardik badly in the past.1715138What a spell by captain Hardik Pandya:4-0-17-3.- A blockbuster season for Hardik the All Rounder, India missed this Hardik badly in the past. https://t.co/LIuKGBrGU6Soorya Sesha@sooryasesha7One of the biggest takeaways of the season - the return of Hardik Pandya. As an overall package, been saying for a while that nobody else comes close to him in white ball cricket and he's proved it again. Of course, handle him with care please! #IPL2022 #GTvRR667One of the biggest takeaways of the season - the return of Hardik Pandya. As an overall package, been saying for a while that nobody else comes close to him in white ball cricket and he's proved it again. Of course, handle him with care please! #IPL2022 #GTvRR∆🏏@CaughtAtGullyHardik is a really good pacer for someone who started pace bowling at 17-18 years of age.At one point, he was India's 3rd best seamer in limited overs. Seam, swings both ways, sharp bouncer, good variations but fitness ruined everything.1267Hardik is a really good pacer for someone who started pace bowling at 17-18 years of age.At one point, he was India's 3rd best seamer in limited overs. Seam, swings both ways, sharp bouncer, good variations but fitness ruined everything.Prasenjit Dey@CricPrasenCaptain Hardik Pandya has arrived to the scene at the right time. The options to succeed Rohit Sharma as the Indian team captain aren't that assuring right now and that's why Hardik's arrival bodes really well, at least in the white-ball format.#GTvRR515Captain Hardik Pandya has arrived to the scene at the right time. The options to succeed Rohit Sharma as the Indian team captain aren't that assuring right now and that's why Hardik's arrival bodes really well, at least in the white-ball format.#GTvRRarfan@Im__ArfanIf GT win here, it is going to be crazy for Hardik. Literally took RR's two best batters now & broke the game almost.64435If GT win here, it is going to be crazy for Hardik. Literally took RR's two best batters now & broke the game almost.Debasis Sen@debasissenWhat an excellent over from Hardik. If anyone has found his mojo in this edition it has to be Hardik. His bowling has been a big positive not only for @gujarat_titans . Augurs well for India.#IPLFinals #IPL2022 #RRvGT24820What an excellent over from Hardik. If anyone has found his mojo in this edition it has to be Hardik. His bowling has been a big positive not only for @gujarat_titans . Augurs well for India.#IPLFinals #IPL2022 #RRvGTarfan@Im__Arfan4-17-3(Jos, Sanju, Hetmyer). That's the spell you expect from your best bowler but here Hardik does that. What a leader he has been this season.405424-17-3(Jos, Sanju, Hetmyer). That's the spell you expect from your best bowler but here Hardik does that. What a leader he has been this season.Abhishek Mukherjee@ovshake42If Hardik Pandya can bowl, he should not only play T20Is for India but also lead India in the format.I cannot think why not.If you think he shouldn't lead, I hope it is a reason other than "I don't like him" or "I don't rate him as a captain, just like that".20319If Hardik Pandya can bowl, he should not only play T20Is for India but also lead India in the format.I cannot think why not.If you think he shouldn't lead, I hope it is a reason other than "I don't like him" or "I don't rate him as a captain, just like that".CBTF Speed News@cbtfspeednewsSurely Hardik Pandya has returned with a bang. Who's excited to see him doing this for India? #IPL202219428Surely Hardik Pandya has returned with a bang. Who's excited to see him doing this for India? #IPL2022 https://t.co/YJ6fyBrTk8??@AmSoDoneNot the first time hardik has removed Butler's towel in an IPL final11821Not the first time hardik has removed Butler's towel in an IPL final³@Legspiner3Hardik Pandya The best all-rounder from India in white ball cricket after 2015 Hardik Pandya in knockout matches 714Hardik Pandya The best all-rounder from India in white ball cricket after 2015 Hardik Pandya in knockout matches 🔥 https://t.co/PTMwzcDQvdMufaddal Vohra@mufaddal_vohraHardik Pandya has picked the wickets of Sanju, Buttler and Hetmyer tonight. 3 of the best Rajasthan Royals' batters.The MVP of Gujarat Titans, Hardik.2737165Hardik Pandya has picked the wickets of Sanju, Buttler and Hetmyer tonight. 3 of the best Rajasthan Royals' batters.The MVP of Gujarat Titans, Hardik.R A T N I S H@LoyalSachinFanWhat a bowling from Hardik PandyaImagine comparing this don with any other all-rounder in this country.34033What a bowling from Hardik PandyaImagine comparing this don with any other all-rounder in this country.Amit Mishra@MishiAmitGood bowling changes, good field placement and great execution of plans. Hardik Pandya is turning out to be a great captain in this year’s IPL. #GTvsRR #TATAIPL202271837Good bowling changes, good field placement and great execution of plans. Hardik Pandya is turning out to be a great captain in this year’s IPL. #GTvsRR #TATAIPL2022 https://t.co/LjAj2gz63i.@finehaihumPeople still don't rate Don hardik🤣🤣426People still don't rate Don hardik🤣😭🤣Prashanth S@ps_it_isHardik's pace, lengths and control been really impressive in his spell today. If you watch this and put some other all rounder in this country in the same sentence its...597Hardik's pace, lengths and control been really impressive in his spell today. If you watch this and put some other all rounder in this country in the same sentence its...Samreen@SamreenRazz#IPL2022 For someone whose bowling fitness was in doubt before the season, or whether he'd even be playing as a bowling all-rounder, that's quite the spell from Hardik Pandya - 4-0-17-3.303#IPL2022 For someone whose bowling fitness was in doubt before the season, or whether he'd even be playing as a bowling all-rounder, that's quite the spell from Hardik Pandya - 4-0-17-3.arfan@Im__ArfanRR's flawed batting lineup got exposed badly in the worst possible game for them110475RR's flawed batting lineup got exposed badly in the worst possible game for themShubh Aggarwal@shubh_chintakThis is probably the first time this season that Ashwin's wicket is a setback for #RR. Sums up their batting effort.61This is probably the first time this season that Ashwin's wicket is a setback for #RR. Sums up their batting effort.Gurkirat Singh Gill@gurkiratsgillDidn't understand it myself. It's not like RR have a lot of batting depth that they can sustain setting a score above par if and when Jos fails.It's mostly better to chase in T20s, even more so when you don't have batting depth. Probably playing on used pitch was a factor. twitter.com/Lavesh18_17/st…Lavesh@Lavesh18_17@gurkiratsgill Why did they chose to bat first in the first place?🤣763@gurkiratsgill Why did they chose to bat first in the first place?🤣Didn't understand it myself. It's not like RR have a lot of batting depth that they can sustain setting a score above par if and when Jos fails.It's mostly better to chase in T20s, even more so when you don't have batting depth. Probably playing on used pitch was a factor. twitter.com/Lavesh18_17/st…12th Khiladi@12th_khiladiWhat a day for RR's lack of batting depth to be laid bare!#IPL2022 #GTvsRR101What a day for RR's lack of batting depth to be laid bare!#IPL2022 #GTvsRR https://t.co/v13b2O3ewbNikhil 🏏@CricCrazyNIKS130/9. A batting effort that never got out of first gear right through. Easily 30 short, RR and will need a proper magic spell to stay in the game. For now, it's all #AavaDe523130/9. A batting effort that never got out of first gear right through. Easily 30 short, RR and will need a proper magic spell to stay in the game. For now, it's all #AavaDeपीकी बलविंदर@invincible667RR batting line-up today4726RR batting line-up today https://t.co/KPE6e4B3I2Kriticism @IndianpunnerRR's batting line-up today8641RR's batting line-up today https://t.co/UJZLQs3iRzHardik Pandya probably saved his best in IPL 2022 for the finalSanju Samson raised quite a few eyebrows when he decided to bat first after winning the toss. Yashasvi Jaiswal did get RR off to a bit of a flier, but he was sent back early by Yash Dayal.Samson and Buttler steadied RR's ship through the powerplay. But just as the RR captain looked to explode, his opposite number dismissed him as he was caught at a short point.Devdutt Padikkal's struggles in the middle-order continued as Rashid Khan ended his misery.Buttler started to find his feet after a sluggish start, but Pandya once again got a breakthrough at a crucial stage.All eyes were then on Shimron Hetmyer to help RR get to about 150. But once again, the GT skipper dented RR's hopes with a simple caught and bowled.The damage was too much for RR to recover from as they crawled their way to 130. They will need wickets in clusters to stop GT from winning their maiden IPL title on their first attempt.