Sai Sudharsan puts brain over brawn

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New Delhi, April 4

Gujarat Titans’ B Sai Sudharsan is not built for the power-hitting game. Instead, what he possesses is a great sense of the game as he knows his scoring areas and occasionally is brave enough to scoop Delhi Capitals’ Anrich Nortje for a six over fine-leg.

Sudharsan showed his nous as he anchored the chase for the reigning champions. His application was simple: get the occasional boundary, look for a quick double or take a single to allow the power-hitters of his team to showcase a chance to use the long handle. He aced his role by top-scoring with an unbeaten 62 off 48 balls at the Feroz Shah Kotla here today.

Chasing a modest total of 162, Gujarat were in a spot of bother as fast bowler Nortje castled openers Wriddhiman Saha and an in-form Shubman Gill by the fifth over. And when Khaleel Ahmed snared skipper Hardik Pandya, Gujrat were reduced to 54/3.

However, Sudharsan stuck to his game plan and first constructed a 53-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Vijay Shankar and then took the team home alongside David Miller. When Miller came in to bat after Shankar fell, Gujarat still needed 55 runs to win.

Miller, who averages a boundary every four balls at the death since 2020, flexed his muscles in the 16th over. He first dispatched Mukesh Kumar to the midwicket fence. This shot was followed by another big hit over mid-on and a boundary along the covers to ease Gujarat’s nerves.

With Miller finding the boundary, Sudharsan got into the act. He completed his boundary with a ramp shot off Nortje and then hit him over fine-leg for a six to end any hopes for a late drama as Gujarat won with 11 balls to spare.

Earlier, Mohammed Shami (3/41 ), Alzarri Joseph (2/29) and Rashid Khan (3/31) kept Delhi’s batters in check. After their top-order failed, it was left to Axar Patel to resurrect the innings with a 22-ball 33 to give the score a respectable look.

Brief Scores: DC: 162/8 in 20 overs (Warner 37, Sarfaraz; Shami 3/41, Rashid 3/31); GT: 163/4 18.1 overs (Sudharsan 62*, Miller 31*; Nortje 2/39).

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