Sai Sudharsan played an excellent knock against Delhi to help Gujarat win in their last match.
On a tough pitch to bat, Delhi Capitals were asked to bat first by GT captain Hardik Pandya after he won the toss. Thanks to 37 from David Warner, 30 from Sarfaraz Khan and 36 from Akshar Patel, DC managed to put 162/8 in 20 overs.
In reply, GT found themselves in trouble when both openers Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha got out for 14 runs each. And then Hardik Pandya got out for 5 runs. But then Sai Sudharsan first stabilized the innings with Vijay Shankar (29) and then took his team to victory with David Miller (31* in 16 balls).
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Sudharsan was named the Player of the Match for his 62* in 48 balls with 2 sixes and 4 fours to his name. The 21-year-old had hit a fifty in his debut season with Gujarat in their victorious IPL campaign in 2022.
The Tamil Nadu batter received universal praise for his mature innings and one of those praising him was India legend Sunil Gavaskar.
The legendary batter said he was impressed with Sudharsan's temperament and is confident that the left-hander will go places shortly while lauding Gujarat Titans for allowing youngsters to express themselves.
"What you saw with Sai Sudharsan, even in the previous game, is confidence. Yes, he played a few games in the IPL last year. He got a few opportunities, he played a couple of good 30-plus innings. The other day also... the confidence with which he came into bat. From the first delivery, he looked as if he belonged there. Some players give you the impression that they are comfortable even at the highest level,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports.
Sudharsan had an excellent outing for Tamil Nadu in domestic cricket as he scored 610 runs, including 3 hundreds in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and 572 runs, including 2 hundreds, in 7 matches in Ranji Trophy.
"He showed he is ready for the challenge. He was looking forward to the Nortje challenge. He realized he wouldn't be able to counter-attack Nortje with the speed that he was bowling. Later on, when Nortje came for the second spell, he hit him for two sixes. Now that's smart cricket. Look, at this stage, I need to repair the innings, so he was watchful. In this format, a lot of times everybody thinks you have to go over the top.
It tells you he is ready for bigger challenges. He has got to not think now that he has done it. He has got to say to himself that there are steps to be taken before he reaches the very top level. But he has got all the makings. He is a top fielder as well, which is always a plus. It was his temperament that shone through. I have always believed that it's the temperament that separates men from boys. He has all the potential to become a top player soon," he added.
GT will next face Kolkata Knight Riders in Ahmedabad on April 9.