Sai Sudharsan (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)
A solid 62*-run-knock from Sai Sudharsan and all-round performance from the bowlers handed GT a comfortable six-wicket win over DC in 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 where Mohammed Shami drew the first blood by setting up Prithvi Shaw with a short ball, and in his very next over, he cleaned up the in-form Mitchell Marsh with a peach as DC was 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 struck 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 the 13th over of the game for a straight four-over spell in the death and 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 with positive intent scoring 22 runs in the first two overs. Anrich Nortje, announced his comeback with a 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 the hut at the close of the powerplay and 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 numbers from the game between DC and GT:
13 -Rashid Khan (117) surpassed Sandeep Sharma and became the 13th leading wicket-taker in IPL.
4 -Alzarri Joseph equaled 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 Ferguson (12).
31 -Gujarat Titans have taken 31 wickets in the 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 the IPL.
54.62 -David Miller averages 54.62 in IPL while chasing which is the most by a player while chasing. KL Rahul is second on the list with an average of 51.97.
50 -Hardik Pandya completed 50 fours for Gujarat Titans in IPL.
500- David Miller (512) and Hardik Pandya (500) achieved the feat of scoring 500 runs for GT in the IPL.
2 -Sai Sudharsan registered his second half-century in the cash-rich league.
1 -Mohammed Shami (18) has the most powerplay wickets in IPL since 2021. Trent Boult is next to him with 17 wickets.