Gujarat Titans (GT) batter David Miller showered rich praise on skipper Hardik Pandya for his leadership skills after the defending champions won two successive games in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season.
While the Titans defeated Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by five wickets in the tournament opener, they thrashed Delhi Capitals (DC) by six wickets in the second match.
As a result, GT are occupying top spot on the table with four points and a net run rate of +0.700.
“Hardik is definitely one of the top players I have worked with. I have been very privileged to work under him. My first captain in the IPL was Adam Gilchrist, so very privileged to be in this position. We never really knew Hardik last year, but got to know him off the field. He is his own person and instills a lot of confidence within the squad. He’s a huge team man and makes a lot of time for the younger guys,” Miller told reporters after GT’s win over DC on Tuesday (April 4).
Sai Sudharsan starred with the bat in Gujarat Titans’ victory over Delhi Capitals at Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Chasing 163 to win, the Titans were struggling at 54/3. Amid the pressure situation, Sudharsan produced an unbeaten knock of 62 in 48 balls to take the defending champions over the line with 11 deliveries to spare.
Miller praised the left-hander for his knock under pressure.
“Sai played a few games last year and to come in and do what he has done in the last two games has been really encouraging for the team. He is a seriously talented player and we do need him in the squad. It’s nice to see him doing really well and great to see him become the Player of the Match,” he stated.
DC speedster Anrich Nortje troubled the GT batter and knocked over opening batters Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha with sheer pace.
Miller said it’s important for batters to combat Nortje on the front foot instead of playing on the backfoot.
“With the express pace of Nortje, you naturally want to hang back, but it’s important to keep playing forward, getting on the front foot. We were chatting about it at the half-way stage,” Miller added.
(India Today Inputs)
