Gujarat Titans with the bat did everything right as they scored a massive 214 on the board. The defending IPL champions took apart the Chennai Super Kings team in the biggest game of the season. The architect of the huge total was none other 21 year old left handed batter from Tamil Nadu in the form of Sai Sudarshan.
The story so far –
Sai Sudarshan burst into the scene with an amazing performance with the bat last year in TATA IPL 2022. This season the 21 year old had found the going tough and in fact was benched for a few games. Sudarshan was asked to retire himself out during the 2nd play off game against Mumbai Indians on Friday.
Sudarshan’s six leaves everyone stunned –
Tushar Deshpande has been one of the go to bowlers for MS Dhoni during the 2023 season. Gujarat were 153/2 at the end of the 16 overs with Sudarshan and Pandya in the middle. Tushar Deshpande was bowling round the wicket to kill of the run scoring chances.
That’s when Sudarshan moved outside the crease and tried to play the scoop shot. The ball took a healthy edge and went over the third man boundary for a huge six to leave everyone stunned. That shot left the Chennai fielders and even the commentators shocked and stunned and the distance it travelled.
Gill and Saha give Gujarat a quick start –
Put into bat, Gujarat had their openers Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill who saw off the 1st few overs. Deepak Chahar dropped Gill when he was on 3 and the two GT batters went after the CSK bowlers. The pair added 67 for the 1st wicket as Gill scored 39 off 20 balls with 7 fours before he was stumped by Dhoni off Jadeja.
Saha and Sudarshan keep the momentum going before Pandya joins in –
Veteran wicket keeper batter Wriddhiman Saha kept going as he did not let the momentum drop. The 38 year old who scored a century in the IPL 2014 final for Punjab scored crucial 54 off 39 balls with 5 fours and a six as he fell to Chahar caught by Dhoni. Saha and Sudarshan added 64 for the 2nd wicket in exactly 7 overs.
Pandya and Sudarshan then combined to 81 runs in 33 balls for the 3rd wicket as Sudarshan scored career best 96 off 47 balls with 8 fours and 6 sixes. Pandya was not out on 21 off 12 balls with 2 sixes as Gujarat Titans finished on a massive 214 from their 20 overs in the final game of the season.