In an impressive display of batting prowess, Sai Sudharsan scored his maiden First-Class double century during the Ranji Trophy, leading Tamil Nadu's charge against Saurashtra. The southpaw's remarkable innings came after the early dismissal of captain N Jagadeesan, showcasing his ability to anchor the innings and guide his team towards a substantial total.

A stellar partnership

Sudharsan's innings against Delhi was marked by a strong partnership with Washington Sundar, who played a crucial role in helping Tamil Nadu approach the 400-run mark on Day 1. Their collaboration not only stabilized the innings after the loss of Jagadeesan but also set the stage for a commanding first-day performance. Sudharsan's approach was aggressive yet calculated, a combination that proved effective throughout his innings.

Prior to this match, Sudharsan had already made waves in the domestic circuit, scoring a solid 82 off 159 balls in a match against Saurashtra earlier in the season. His consistent performances have made him a player to watch, especially following his T20I debut for India against Zimbabwe earlier this year.

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Continued success in domestic cricket

Sudharsan has been in excellent form throughout the season, having notched a century for India C in the Duleep Trophy against India A. His batting skills have been on full display, and he continues to build on his success from the previous season with the Gujarat Giants, where he accumulated 527 runs across 12 matches, including a remarkable 103 runs off just 51 balls against the Chennai Super Kings.

As Sudharsan continues to develop his skills and gain experience, his contributions to Tamil Nadu's batting lineup could prove invaluable in their quest for success in the ongoing tournament. With this maiden double century under his belt, the future looks bright for the young cricketer.

Get ready for another exhilarating season of cricket as the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) returns for its 2024 edition, kicking off on Friday, July 5. Just like last year, eight dynamic teams will battle it out for the coveted TNPL trophy, promising fans a summer filled with high-octane action, nail-biting finishes, and exceptional cricketing talent.

History of TNPL

The TNPL, established in 2016, has rapidly grown into one of India’s premier T20 leagues. It has provided a platform for local talent to shine and has been instrumental in discovering future stars for Indian cricket. Over the years, the league has seen fierce competition, with teams like Chepauk Super Gillies and Lyca Kovai Kings emerging as dominant forces.

See Also: T20 World Cup winning team members to be honored in Maharashtra State Assembly

Teams and Players to watch

The 2024 edition features eight teams, each packed with talent and ready to make their mark. Key players to watch include Sai Sudharsan, Shahrukh Khan, Baba Aparajith, N Jagadeesan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Varun Chakravarthy, Sandeep Warrier, Vijay Shankar, T Natarajan, Sai Kishore, and Baba Indrajith. These stars are expected to light up the tournament with their skills and performances.

Kickoff Match: Lyca Kovai Kings vs. Chepauk Super Gillies

The tournament will kick off with a thrilling match between the defending champions Lyca Kovai Kings and the formidable Chepauk Super Gillies at the SCF Cricket Ground in Salem. This opening clash promises to set the tone for the rest of the tournament, with key players from both sides looking to make a strong start.

Venue Details

SCF Cricket Ground, Salem

A picturesque venue known for its lively atmosphere and excellent pitch conditions, making it a favorite among players and fans alike.

SBR College Cricket Ground, Coimbatore

A relatively new venue but quickly gaining a reputation for high-scoring games and passionate local support.

Indian Cement Company Ground, Tirunelveli

A historic ground that has hosted numerous memorable matches, known for its challenging pitch and vibrant crowd.

NPR College Ground, Dindigul

Renowned for its excellent facilities and a track that offers something for both batsmen and bowlers.

MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

One of India’s iconic cricket stadiums, famous for its electric atmosphere and being a fortress for the home teams.

Tournament format

The TNPL 2024 will follow a single round-robin format, with each team facing every other team once. This ensures a total of 28 league stage matches, keeping fans on the edge of their seats. The top four teams will then progress to the playoffs, adopting a format similar to the IPL:

Qualifier 1

The top two teams face off, with the winner earning a direct ticket to the Final.

Eliminator

The third and fourth-placed teams battle it out, with the winner moving on to play the loser of Qualifier 1 in Qualifier 2.

Qualifier 2

The winner of the Eliminator takes on the loser of Qualifier 1, with the victor advancing to the Final.

Final

The ultimate showdown where the winners of Qualifier 1 and Qualifier 2 compete for the TNPL 2024 title.

Schedule and Key dates

The league stage runs from July 5 to July 16, across five venues. The Quarter Finals and Eliminator will be played on July 30 and 31 in Dindigul, while the final stages, including Quarter Final 2 and the grand finale, will be hosted at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on August 2 and 4.

Double headers

Seven double-headers are scheduled throughout the league stage, with afternoon matches starting at 3:15 pm IST and evening encounters commencing at 7:15 pm IST. This format not only maximizes viewership but also adds to the excitement and intensity of the competition.

Introduction of DRS

For the first time in TNPL history, umpires will have access to the Decision Review System (DRS) for all matches. However, the DRS cannot be used to overturn no-ball or wide calls, ensuring that the system complements the on-field umpires without undermining their authority.

Broadcast and Live Streaming details

All matches will be streamed live on the FanCode app and website. However, none of the games will be broadcast on TV.

Tamil Nadu Premier League 2024: Full schedule

• Match 1: July 5, Lyca Kovai Kings vs Chepauk Super Gillies, 7:15 pm, Salem
• Match 2: July 6, Dindigul Dragons vs Trichy Grand Cholas, 3:15 pm, Salem
• Match 3: July 6, Salem Spartans vs Siechem Madurai Panthers, 7:15 pm, Salem
• Match 4: July 7, Nellai Royal Kings vs Chepauk Super Gillies, 3:15 pm, Salem
• Match 5: July 7, Lyca Kovai Kings vs IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans, 7:15 pm, Salem
• Match 6: July 8, Dindigul Dragons vs Salem Spartans, 7:15 pm, Salem
• Match 7: July 9, Siechem Madurai Panthers vs Trichy Grand Cholas, 7:15 pm, Salem
• Match 8: July 10, Chepauk Super Gillies vs IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans, 7:15 pm, Salem
• Match 9: July 11, Nellai Royal Kings vs Salem Spartans, 7:15 pm, Salem
• Match 10: July 13, Siechem Madurai Panthers vs IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans, 3:15 pm, Coimbatore
• Match 11: July 13, Lyca Kovai Kings vs Nellai Royal Kings, 7:15 pm, Coimbatore
• Match 12: July 14, Salem Spartans vs Trichy Grand Cholas, 3:15 pm, Coimbatore
• Match 13: July 14, Chepauk Super Gillies vs Dindigul Dragons, 7:15 pm, Coimbatore
• Match 14: July 15, Siechem Madurai Panthers vs Nellai Royal Kings, 7:15 pm, Coimbatore
• Match 15: July 16, Trichy Grand Cholas vs Lyca Kovai Kings, 7:15 pm, Coimbatore
• Match 16: July 17, IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans vs Dindigul Dragons, 7:15 pm, Coimbatore
• Match 17: July 18, Salem Spartans vs Chepauk Super Gillies, 7:15 pm, Coimbatore
• Match 18: July 20, Trichy Grand Cholas vs Nellai Royal Kings, 7:15 pm, Tirunelveli
• Match 19: July 21, Dindigul Dragons vs Lyca Kovai Kings, 3:15 pm, Tirunelveli
• Match 20: July 21, IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans vs Salem Spartans, 7:15 pm, Tirunelveli
• Match 21: July 22, Trichy Grand Cholas vs Chepauk Super Gillies, 7:15 pm, Tirunelveli
• Match 22: July 23, Siechem Madurai Panthers vs Lyca Kovai Kings, 7:15 pm, Tirunelveli
• Match 23: July 24, Nellai Royal Kings vs IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans, 7:15 pm, Tirunelveli
• Match 24: July 26, Dindigul Dragons vs Siechem Madurai Panthers, 7:15 pm, Dindigul
• Match 25: July 27, Salem Spartans vs Lyca Kovai Kings, 3:15 pm, Dindigul
• Match 26: July 27, IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans vs Trichy Grand Cholas, 7:15 pm, Dindigul
• Match 27: July 28, Chepauk Super Gillies vs Siechem Madurai Panthers, 3:15 pm, Dindigul
• Match 28: July 28, Nellai Royal Kings vs Dindigul Dragons, 7:15 pm, Dindigul
• Match 29: July 30, Qualifier 1, 7:15 pm, Dindigul
• Match 30: July 31, Eliminator, 7:15 pm, Dindigul
• Match 31: August 2, Qualifier 2, 7:15 pm, Chennai
• Match 32: August 4, Final, 7:15 pm, Chennai

TNPL 2024: Squads of all 8 teams

Chepauk Super Gillies: Aparajith B, Arunachalam V, Ayyappan B, Narayan Jagadeesan, Jitendra Kumar CH, Lokesh Raj TD, Madankumar S, Pradosh Ranjan Paul, Rahil S Shah, Sibi R, Silambarasan M, Daryl S Ferrario, Periyasamy G, Aswin Christ A, Abhishek Tanwar, Satish R, Shajahan M , Surya B, Santhosh Kumar D, Andre Siddharth C.

Dindigul Dragons: Affan Khader M, Ravichandran Ashwin, Boopathi, Vaishnav Kumar, Diran VP, Indrajith B, Kishore G, Sarath Kumar C, Shivam Singh, Subodh Kumar Bhati, Varun CV, Vignesh P, Vimal Khumar R, Sandeep Warrier, Rocky B, Rohan Raju, Om Nithin K, Ilaiyaraja P, Ashik K.

IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans: Ajith Ram S, Anirudh Sita Ram, Buvaneshwaran P, Ganesh S, Karuppusamy A, Manikandan S, Mohammed Ali S, Radhakrishnan S, Tushar Raheja, Vijay Shankar, Sai Kishore R, Thangarasu Natarajan, Maan K Bafna, Anovankar, Ram Kumar, Jeevanantham, Amit Sathvik, Karthik Saran, Rohit R, Madhivanan M

Lyca Kovai Kings: Atheeq ur Rahman MA, Divakar R, Gowtham Thamarai Kannan K, Hemcharan P, Jhathavedh Subramanyan, Mohammed M, Mugilesh U, Om Prakash KM, Ram Arvindh R, Sachin B, Sai Sudharsan B, Shahrukh Khan M, Siddharth M, Sujay S, Suresh Kumar J, Vidyuth P, Yudheeswaran V, Manish GR, Vignesh GV, Meeran Rahil Rahman.

Nellai Royal Kings: Ajithesh G, Arun Karthik KB, Arun Kumar SJ, Emmanuel Cheriyan B, Harish NS, Kabilan N, Lakshay Jain S, Mohan Prasath S, Nidhish S Rajagopal, Rithik Eswaran S, Rohan J, Sonu Yadav R, Sugendhiran P, Suryaprakash L, Mokit Hariharan .S, Gohulmoorthi S, Gowtham V, Abhilash AV, Kirubakaran R, Silambarasan R.

Salem Spartans: Abhishiek S, Ganesh Moorthi M, Guru Sayee S, Jaganath Sinivas RS, Kavin R, Mohammed Adnan Khan, Sachin Rathi, Selvakumaran N, Sunny Sandhu, Vivek R, Harish Kumar S, Aushiq Srinivas R, Robin Singh Bist, Shijit Chandran P, Vishal Vaidhya K, Poiyamozhi M, Rajan R, Yazh Arun Mozhi, Tarun Kumar V, Sudhan Sanjeevi Kandepan.

Siechem Madurai Panthers: Aditya V, Ajay K Krishnan, Ashwin M, Ayush M, Gurjapneet Singh, Hari Nishaanth C, Kousik J, Lokeshwar S, Rahul D, Saravanan P, Sri Abisek AS, Swapnil K Singh, Washington Sundar MS, Chatruvedh NS, Sasidev. U, Alexander R, Kiran Akash, Ajay Chetan J, Karthik Manikandan VS, Akram Khan M.

Trichy Grand Cholas (Ba11sy Trichy): Anthony Das, Adithyaraj Davidson, Eswaran K, Francis Rokins, Ganga Sridhar Raju V, Godson G, Jafar Jamal, Mani Bharathi K, Raj Kumar K, Raj Kumar R, Vinod SP, Saravanakumar P, Vignesh K, Sanjay Yadav R, Nirmal Kumar P, Shyam Sundar, Mohammed Ashik, Arjun P Murthy, Arya Yohan Menon, Rajin J.

In a thrilling encounter between the Gujarat Titans (GT) and the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan etched their names in IPL history with an outstanding opening stand.

The Explosive Opening Partnership

The clash between GT and CSK witnessed an explosive start as Gill and Sudharsan took the field, showcasing their batting prowess from the outset.

Both Gill and Sudharsan displayed exceptional batting skills, smashing centuries in a display of power-hitting and precision. Despite a relatively slow start, Gill quickly gained momentum, reaching his century in just 50 deliveries, demonstrating his ability to accelerate when needed.

See Also: 5 must watch matches of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024

Gill’s innings were characterized by sheer brilliance. He dominated the CSK bowlers with his aggressive stroke play and impeccable timing. Though starting slowly, Sudharsan showcased his ability to adapt and excel under pressure, ultimately scoring 75 runs in just 28 balls. With a staggering strike rate 267.85 after the powerplay, Sudharsan emerged as a dangerman for the CSK bowling attack, unleashing a flurry of boundaries and sixes.

Equaling the Highest Opening Stand

Gill and Sudharsan’s partnership saw them slam individual centuries and equaled the highest opening stand record in IPL history, previously held by LSG’s Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul.

In addition to their joint-highest opening stand, the duo shattered records for the highest opening pair in the history of Gujarat Titans. It moved to the joint third spot for the highest partnerships in IPL history.

Highest Partnerships in IPL History

Highest Partnerships According to Batting Order in IPL

On one side, the partnership of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers of 229 runs for the 2nd wicket is the highest IPL partnership ever, whereas Shikhar Dhawan and Mohit Sharma’s pair for the 10th wicket is still the highest 10th wicket partnership in IPL history. 

Speaking of the batting contribution according to the batting order, let’s scroll down to find out the IPL partnership list by their batting position.

In the pulsating clash between the Gujarat Titans (GT) and the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Sai Sudharsan etched his name in the annals of Indian Premier League (IPL) history with a spectacular batting display. His innings propelled his team to victory and rewrote the records, surpassing the legendary Sachin Tendulkar’s milestone.

The High-Stakes Encounter

The backdrop of the match between GT and CSK added intensity to Sudharsan’s performance as both teams vied for crucial points in the IPL standings. Amidst the pressure of the must-win scenario, Sudharsan assumed the mantle of responsibility, showcasing his mettle as a batsman.

See Also: ICC T20 World Cup: 3 best knocks by Virat Kohli

The Record-Breaking Knock

Sudharsan’s innings were characterized by his exceptional intent and skill. He took on the CSK bowling attack with confidence and determination.

In a display of remarkable prowess, Sudharsan surpassed Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the fastest Indian batsman to reach 1000 runs in the IPL, achieving this milestone in just 25 innings.

Sachin Tendulkar, a cricketing icon, had held the record for the fastest Indian batsman to reach 1000 IPL runs since April 2010, symbolizing excellence and longevity in the sport. Sudharsan’s feat surpassed Tendulkar’s record and underscored his emergence as a formidable force in the IPL arena. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sachin Tendulkar previously shared the record for the fastest Indian to 1000 IPL runs, achieving this milestone in 31 innings.

Fastest Indian to 1000 IPL runs

Sudharsan’s Standout Performance

Sudharsan’s accomplishment in just 25 innings sets him apart, highlighting his exceptional talent and impact in the IPL. Sudharsan’s feat places him as the joint-third fastest alongside Matthew Hayden, behind only Shaun Marsh and Lendl Simmons in the list of quickest to 1000 IPL runs.

Fewest innings to 1000 IPL runs
21 – Shaun Marsh
23 – Lendl Simmons
25 – Matthew Hayden
25 – Sai Sudharsan*
26 – Jonny Bairstow

Gujarat Titans managed a comfortable win over Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. They managed to play a good knock on a slowish Ahmedabad wicket. And, Sai Sudharsan revealed that targeting spinner Mayank Markande in the 16th over of the chase was a key moment in the game as well.

Chasing 163, the Titans were 78/2 at the halfway stage but Sudharsan and David Miller then added a 64-run partnership with 24 of those runs coming in the 16th over as well. With this, the equation, which was 49 off 30, became easier for GT after that over and they won the match convincingly.

“Definitely it was a difficult wicket to bat on, not so easy where you can go after every bowler in every over. It’s about choosing the right bowler, getting the maximum out of it and taking the games deep with wickets in hand,” said Sai Sudharsan. “It’s all about the situation, when the team needs more run rate, obviously we need to step up. But today, it was a different scenario, it was a different wicket. I felt taking the game deep and keeping wickets in hand helped us today.”

“The wicket got a lot bit easier under the lights. And we also changed the momentum because the run-rate was going up as well. Playing against spinners got a bit easier and that helped us target the spinners as well. We were waiting for that one spin over, it was a conscious decision of taking down the spinner and it went our way, so grateful for that,” he again said.

Sai Sudharsan played a quickfire knock

Meanwhile, Muttiah Muralitharan, the spin bowling coach of SRH, also admitted that the 16th over of the game made all the difference.

“The wicket was a little slow and low, and there was a little spin. We thought of getting close to 180-170, we missed out by 10-15 runs. They bowled really well and we couldn’t capitalise. Even 160 is a manageable total. We were in the game till the 15th over. The 16th over we had to take a gamble – because they had lost only three wickets and then we took a gamble bowling Mayank against two left handers. We knew they would go hard in that over and they might mis-time and we can get a wicket. It didn’t work,” he added.

ALSO READ: Zaheer Khan shares MS Dhoni’s plans after IPL 2024

However, Sai Sudharsan also lauded the GT bowlers for restricting the powerful SRH batting line-up as well. SRH crossed the 100-run mark in the 13th over and they were looking for a massive score with Heinrich Klaasen in sublime form. But both Klaasen and Aiden Markram got out and GT did a great job in the death, led by Mohit Sharma’s stunning figures of 3 for 25 as well.

Muttiah Muralitharan applauds GT’s bowling

“They were going with very good momentum, they were getting a lot of boundaries in the powerplay. So everybody felt it might go to 170-180 but we took wickets at the right time and at the end the last five overs were extraordinary from our bowlers. We had a conversation in the timeout, on pulling the team back, because they were maybe 10-12 runs ahead of what we thought,” Sai Sudharsan said.

Muralitharan further added: “The way Mohit bowled, it was difficult for our batters. We also thought that our bowlers adjusted. Pretty good game. We can’t expect every game to go our way. Our boys tried really hard. There will be small mistakes. So, we have to make sure we don’t do that in the next game so we can get into a winning momentum.”

Meanwhile, the veteran Sri Lankan spinner also opined on the unavailability of Wanindu Hasaranga and how that has affected the balance of the team as well. The legend, however, showed hopes that Hasaranga will join the team in the coming days, despite reports suggesting that he has been ruled out of the tournament as well.

“In the auction, we bought one of the best leg-spinners, Hasaranga. He is struggling with some niggles. He is hoping that he will join on the 4th or 5th [of April]. We don’t know,” Muralitharan said. “That is one area, [Daniel] Vettori, everybody covered [at the auction]. We couldn’t get any Indian spinners because we had what we had, and also because no other team would put out [release] the best Indian spinners.

“The only option was Hasaranga. We took him. But unfortunately, he is saying he has some niggles. So, that’s why our balance is a little bit here and there. It’s unfortunate, it happens to teams. We didn’t neglect, we got a spinner. But at the end of the day, it happens,” he concluded.

In a thrilling IPL 2024 encounter in Ahmedabad on Sunday, Gujarat Titans emerged victorious over Sunrisers Hyderabad by seven wickets. Chasing a target of 163 runs, GT showcased their batting prowess, completing the chase with five balls to spare. Sai Sudharsan led the charge with a top-score of 45, well-supported by David Miller and Shubman Gill, who contributed 44 and 36 runs respectively.

Earlier in the match, after winning the toss, Sunrisers Hyderabad opted to bat first. Despite getting off to decent starts, most of their batsmen struggled to capitalize, resulting in the team posting a total of 162/8. GT’s disciplined bowling attack ensured Sunrisers were contained, setting up a manageable target that their batsmen efficiently chased down, securing a convincing victory in front of the home crowd.

Sai Sudharsan and David Miller plays crucial role

In a dominating display, Gujarat Titans secured a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in their IPL 2024 encounter. Skipper Shubman Gill contributed a steady 36 off 28 balls, while Sai Sudharsan continued his fine form with a brilliant 45 off 36 balls. David Miller played a pivotal role in leading GT to victory with his aggressive innings, scoring 44 runs off just 27 balls.

Earlier, Sunrisers Hyderabad arrived in Ahmedabad on the back of a record-breaking performance, having achieved the highest-ever total in IPL history in a thrilling clash against Mumbai Indians. Led by captain Pat Cummins, SRH are seeking their second win of the season as they face a struggling GT side in match No. 12 at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Mohit’s crucial final over seals victory for Gujarat Titans

Gujarat Titans’ pacer Mohit Sharma emerged as the standout bowler, conceding only three runs in the crucial final over as Sunrisers Hyderabad reached 162-8 in their allotted 20 overs. Providing GT with a brisk start, Wriddhiman Saha and skipper Shubman Gill combined for 36 runs before Shahbaz Ahmed claimed the first wicket for Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Gill contributed 36 off 28 balls, while Sai Sudharsan continued his impressive form with a dynamic 45 off 36 balls. David Miller played a pivotal role, leading GT to a comfortable victory with his explosive 44 off just 27 balls, as Gujarat Titans triumphed over Pat Cummins and his team by seven wickets.

After parting ways with former captain Hardik Pandya, Gujarat Titans began their campaign with a promising victory over Mumbai Indians. However, Shubman Gill’s squad faced a setback in their previous match against defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK), suffering a 63-run defeat. The loss to CSK saw GT’s net run rate plummet to -1.425, highlighting areas for improvement.

Skipper Gill has faced scrutiny for his performances as a key batsman, managing scores of 31 and 8 in the opening fixtures. Meanwhile, David Miller, with a modest average of 29 in 2024, showcased his match-winning capabilities with a crucial innings against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

See Also: Rishabh Pant smashes 50 against CSK; Netizens get emotional

In preparation for IPL 2024, Australian cricketer Matthew Wade has joined the GT squad, adding depth to their lineup. On the other hand, Sunrisers Hyderabad faced a setback with the injury-enforced absence of Wanindu Hasaranga. The spotlight was also on Heinrich Klaasen, leading SRH’s batting charge, who faced a challenge from GT’s Rashid Khan in their recent encounter.

As GT prepares to take on their next opponents at home, they aim to address their challenges and capitalize on the strengths of their revamped squad.

When captain Hardik Panday scored on Khaleel Ahmed’s last power play ball against the Delhi Capitals, the Gujarat Titans were in trouble. After losing openers Wriddhiman Saha (14), Shubman Gill (14) and Hardik (5), GT were 55/3, chasing 163 for victory. The defending champions required a partnership, but the run rate was not a significant issue. A young Sai Sudharsan, extended his hand.

In the absence of the seasoned Kane Williamson, who was ruled out of the tournament due to a knee injury, the 21-year-old from Tamil Nadu has been assigned the difficult task of batting at No. 3 for GT. Additionally, the left-handed pitcher delivered. In IPL 2023, Sudharsan scored 62 from 48 deliveries, including four boundaries and a few sixes, to help his team win consecutive matches. In company of David Miller, the 21-year-old scored 56 runs, remaining unbeaten on a 16-ball 31.

The mature innings played by Sudharan were praised by everyone. Anil Kumble, a cricket legend from India, was greatly impressed by the child’s temperament. The former captain of India also praised all-rounder Vijay Shankar (29), who shared a crucial 53-run partnership with Sudharsan for the fourth wicket.

“Today, it was 3-down and all the big stars were gone. Shubman Gill was gone, Saha got out, and his captain Hardik Pandya got out. Both the Tamil Nadu guys (Vijay Shankar and Sudharsan) got together and put together a partnership. Gujarat has always created that aura about themselves ‘we’ll restrict you to 160 and get that’. With an impact player, it makes it even easier for them. Sai Sudharsan constructed the innings perfectly,”

Kumble said on Jio Cinema.

Former Indian wicket keeper-batter Parthiv Patel was in awe of Sai Sudharsan’s compact technique

“Sudarshan is 21 years old. He’s been playing First Class cricket for the last two years. If you watch him bat, you’ll think he is a very technically correct player. He doesn’t try to smack the ball. There are benefits to him having played last season as well and when you play for a winning team, it changes your mentality. You know that you have players that can create some room and manage a game, which gives you a little time. He showed great maturity with the way he was batting tonight, and this will benefit him in the future.”

said Patel.

A solid 62*-run-knock from Sai Sudharshan and all-round performance from the bowlers hand GT a comfortable six-wicket win over DC in the match number seven of Indian Premier League 2023 at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.

Speaking about the game, Hardik Pandya-led GT won the toss and opted to field, Mohammed Shami drew the first blood by setting up Prithvi Shaw with the short ball and in his very next over, he cleaned up the in-form Mitchell Marsh with a peach as DC were left at 37/2 in the fifth over. David Warner and Sarfraz Khan kept the setting going by adding 30 runs for the third wicket as Warner was playing with positive intent by scoring 37 from 32 balls.

When the partnership started to threaten GT, it was Alzarri Joesph who announced his arrival  into the action as he stuck twice in two balls in his second over, cleaning up Warner and dismissing Rilee Rossouw for a golden-duck with a brute of a delivery.

Rashid Khan was handed the ball in 13^th over of the game for straight four over spell in the death, he did not disappoint his captain as he picked three wickets in his spell. Cameos from Abishek Porel and Axar Patel helped Delhi post a defendable total of 162/8 in 20 overs. In response to 162, Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha started the chase in positive intent scoring 22 runs in first two overs.

Anrich Nortje, announced his comeback with fearsome bowling-display as he cleaned up both the openers for 14 runs in his back-to-back overs. Khaleel Ahmed, then sent skipper Hardik Pandya back to hut at the close of powerplay, GT looked unsettled at 54/3.  

Tamil Nadu stars, Sai Sudharsan and Vijay Shankar led the recovery by adding 53 runs for the fourth wicket

When the partnership started to take off, Mitchell Marsh, who was less effective with the bat, proved worthy with the ball as he broke the good going partnership by trapping Shankar in front.  However, Sai Sudharshan kept the fight along with David Miller, as the duo added another fifty partnership to take GT over the finish line with six wickets remaining.  Sai Sudharsan amassed 62 runs that included four fours and two maximums.

Meanwhile let us look at the stats and number from the game of DC vs GT:

13 -Rashid Khan (117) surpassed Sandeep Sharma and became the 13^th leading wicket-taker in IPL.

4 -Alzarri Joseph equalled Yash Dayal and became the joint-fourth leading wicket-taker for GT in IPL. Mohammed Shami (25) tops the list followed by Rashid Khan (24) and Lockie Feguson (12).

31 -Gujarat Titans have taken 31 wickets in powerplay, which is the most number of wickets taken by a team since GT’s debut in IPL.

10 -Gujarat Titans have won ten out of eleven games while chasing in IPL.

54.62 -David Miller averages 54.62 in IPL while chasing, this is the most by a player while chasing. KL Rahul is second in the list with 51.97.

50 -Hardik Pandya completed 50 fours for Gujarat Titans in IPL.

500– David Miller (512) and Hardik Pandya (500) have achieved the feat of scoring 500 runs for GT in IPL.

IPL 2023, 7th Match: Gujarat Titans 163 for 4 (Sudharsan 62*, Nortje 2-39) beat Delhi Capitals 162 for 8 (Warner 37, Rashid 3-31, Shami 3-41, Joseph 2-29) by six wickets

At the start of the 2023 season, the defending champion Gujarat Titans picked up their second consecutive victory thanks to three-wicket hauls from Mohammed Shami and Rashid Khan, as well as a measured fifty from B Sai Sudharsan that was unbeaten. Delhi Capitals experienced their second consecutive misfortune, in their most memorable home game this year.

After restricting Capitals to 162 for 8 with the help of Shami, Alzarri Joseph, and Rashid, Anrich Nortje’s pace put the Titans in trouble in the sixth over, when they were 54 for 3. Sudarshan and Vijay Shankar, who played in place of Josh Little as Gujarat’s Impact Player, put together a 53-run stand to bring the Titans closer. The Titans won with 11 balls remaining thanks to the finishing touches of David Miller, who had just arrived in Delhi from Johannesburg the day before.

Shami struggles and then hurts Capitals 

The Delhi pitch was lively from the start, and Shami was unable to control his swing. In his first two powerplay innings, he gave up ten runs through wide balls. Additionally, he bowled a number of superb deliveries, one of which pounded David Warner and grazed the off stump but failed to dislodge the bail. Shami got Mitchell Marsh to cut the back of a length ball on to his stumps and got Prithvi Shaw to spoon a well-directed short ball to mid-on. Even though the Capitals went 52 for 2 on the power play, none of their batters appeared to be confident.

Joseph and Rashid restrict Capitals

The Capitals’ lives were also made miserable by Joseph. His first over resulted in 11 runs lost, but his second over stood out. By inducing a thick inside edge on the stumps, he first ended Warner’s difficult stay. Rilee Rossouw was hit by the next ball, which was a snorter. She fought up to the point and Rahul Tewatia dived forward to make a sharp catch. Joseph was swift, cruel, and precise. His vicious bouncers struck Sarfaraz Khan and Abishek Porel in the helmet as Joseph continued to travel at speeds greater than 145 kilometers per hour.

Rashid Khan, a leg spinner, was brought into the attack in the 13th over, and he had an immediate impact despite the fact that Capitals’ pace was causing a lot of problems. Rashid bowled out Sarfaraz and Aman Khan in the 17th and 19th overs with Porel playing all around a sharp leg break second ball. Just Axar Patel looked agreeable for Capitals, and his 36 off 22 balls assisted them with coming to 162.

The Sai Sudharsan-Vijay Delhi connection

Sudharsan and Vijay, both members of the Tamil Nadu team, had put together two fifty-run partnerships in four innings prior to this match. Coincidentally, both of those partnerships had occurred at the Arun Jaitley Stadium during the 2021 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. After beginning their stand in a difficult situation, the Titans batsmen scored another half-century in Delhi. Nortje had bowled the openers Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill, and Khaleel Ahmed had Hardik Pandya gotten behind. With the asking rate under control, Sudharsan and Shankar steadily built the chase by rotating strikes and scoring occasional boundaries in between. They avoided taking unnecessary risks.

Sudarshan keeps his head; Miller does what he does best

Sudharsan, who had a great domestic season and was one of the tournament’s finds last year, plays in this IPL. He never seemed out of his depth, despite Nortje speeding things up and Kuldeep Yadav getting the odd one to rip. Sudharsan scored fifty off 44 deliveries and finished the game unbeaten. Miller, on the other hand, settled in right away and crushed Mukesh Kumar for 20 runs in the 16th over to win the match. Miller’s finishing skills made him a mainstay for the Titans last year, and he has had a similar impact this season.

Impact Players: Khaleel Ahmed and Vijay Shankar

In comparison to his Delhi counterpart, Vijay had a greater impact on the game. Khaleel took the field at the start of the second innings in place of Sarfaraz Khan. He did bowl Hardik out, but in his four overs, he got 38 runs. Vijay’s partnership with Sudharsan turned the Titans’ game around, managing a 23-ball 29.