Sai Sudharshan- From CSK Academy to Scaring CSK in the IPL Finals

After scoring 43 in the 2nd Qualifier, Sai Sudharshan walked off retiring out realizing that his job has been done. On that day he struggled to get the ball moving as his timing evaded him. He made 43 off 31, a pretty good score, but given Shubman Gill’s innings before, and the nature of the surface Sudharshan needed to kick on.

In the Finals, Sai Sudharshan found himself in a similar situation, although much earlier. He was 10 off 12 at one stage and the fact that T20s are not his strongest format became evident. In the early parts of his career, Sai Sudharshan came into the light with his composure and his ability to play cricket steadily. Last season, and through most of this season too, Sai Sudharshan played some steady knocks with his focus on playing good cricketing shots rather than looking to force the ball to the fence.

His composure got Ravichandran Ashwin endorsing him as Ashwin bid heavily for him in the Tamil Nadu Premier League. The pair did not end up on the same side though but he did do the job for his team in the tournament as a new exciting talent from Tamil Nadu was on the rise. He was picked up by the Gujarat Titans at base price later, and took up the role as the sides anchor.

However, with Hardik Pandya moving up the order allowing for another bowler in the side, Sai Sudharshan’s role was reduced as he moved in and out of the side. Sudharshan though found his way back in the eleven after Hardik Pandya resumed his bowling duties, allowing Sudharshan to come back at number three.

He was put to the Test immediately and against the Chennai Super Kings, in the IPL Finals, the heat was on. His lack of big-hitting options was evident, but Sudharshan found his own style of play to set the ball rolling as he went on to scare the Chennai Super Kings. He took on Matheesha Pathirana in the 12th over and put Chennai’s death bowling specialist under pressure. With a good over under his belt, Sai Sudharshan was on his way and all of a sudden the gaps were coming with ease.

He did not spare any of the bowlers as Ravindra Jadeja conceded a six in the next over. The next thirty minutes were pure carnage as Sudharshan dug into Chennai’s death bowlers, Tushar Deshpande and Matheesha Pathirana. He showed his ability to play some innovative shots, and also displayed impressive stroke play as he managed to get under some good deliveries from Matheesha Pathirana.

The crowd was going wild as a special talent from Chennai was putting pressure on the Chennai Super Kings. He was dismissed in the Final Over for a well made 96, and on the way to his 96, Sai Sudharshan gave a really entertaining display. The T20 Format evidently is not his best, but when it mattered the most, Sudharshan managed to play a crucial innings, striking over 200 allowing Gujarat to get to a really strong total in the end.