Gill and Sai Sudharsan hammer the daylights out of CSK attack
The openers smash centuries and script a 210-run partnership to lay the foundation for Titans who go on to pile up a mammoth 231 for three in a rematch of last year’s „nal at the Narendra Modi Stadium; Deshpande takes two wickets
The previous occasion Gujarat Titans met Chennai Super Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium, B. Sai Sudharsan stroked his way to a brilliant 96 in the 2023 IPL nal in what proved a losing cause.
Against the same opponent on Friday, Sai Sudharsan went on to score his maiden IPL hundred (103, 51b, 5x4, 7x6) to power Titans to 231 for three after being asked to bat.
Perfect guide
The opener had his partner Shubman Gill to guide him along. The skipper made a hundred of his own (104, 55b, 9x4, 6x6) as the two made mincemeat of a hapless Super Kings attack during their 210-run partnership.
The duo made optimum use of the excellent batting conditions, displaying their full range with a mix of conventional batting and smart improvisation.
Right from the rst ball he faced, Gill showed he meant business; he cut Mitchell Santner for a boundary and deposited him over long-on in the rst over.
Sai Sudharsan joined the party with a couple of sixes against the pacers as the hosts scored 58 in the PowerPlay.
The Tamil Nadu lefthander then went after Ravindra Jadeja, targeting the leg-side boundary and getting to his half-century in style with a slog-swept six over square-leg.
Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad had to rely on seamers Simarjeet Singh and Daryl Mitchell as the spinners struggled, but the plan backred.
The oodgates opened in the 11th over when Gill pulled Simarjeet over neleg for a maximum to reach his half-century before Sai Sudharsan nished the over with a brace of sixes.
Going after Mitchell
Gill turned his attention to Daryl Mitchell in the 14th over, smashing three sixes. To make it more agonising for the bowler, Tushar Deshpande dropped the second shot at long-o when the batter was on 72.
As they had done throughout their innings, Gill and Sai Sudharsan majestically touched the threegure mark in the 17th over bowled by Simarjeet.
While the former punished a full toss, the latter scooped the ball over neleg for a maximum.
Though Desphande and Shardul Thakur pulled things back for Super Kings with some disciplined and accurate bowling in the nal ve overs, it was too little too late.
Super Kings were 162 for five in 16 overs with Dube (20) and Jadeja (15) at the crease. Rahane (1), Ravindra (1), Ruturaj (0), Mitchell (63) and Moeen (56) were the batters dismissed. Mohit scalped two.