Shubman Gill. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
Former Australia cricketer Tom Moody shared his thoughts on Shubman Gill’s match-winning century against defending champions Chennai Super Kings in Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on May 10. Gill was not in the best of forms this season, however, he joined hands with makeshift opener Sai Sudharsan in a record 210-run partnership to belt the visiting bowlers to every nook and corner of the park.
Gill smacked nine fours and six sixes in his 55-ball 104 while Sudharsan struck five fours and seven sixes in his 103 off 51. The sensational partnership meant that the Titans notched up 231/3 despite a slowdown towards the end, and the target proved comfortably beyond CSK’s reach as they fell 35 short eventually.
“First and foremost, as the captain of the side, he’ll be over the moon with the win, that would be the foremost thing on his mind. Secondly, he’ll be thrilled about scoring a century for a couple of reasons. One, it signifies his significant contribution to the team’s success. Two, it reaffirms his status as a world-class player. He’s obviously gutted about not being part of India’s World Cup 15 that’s traveling to the Caribbean and the US. It has really had a massive impact on his contribution as a run-scorer in this year’s IPL,” Moody said on Star Sports Cricket Live.
Also read: ‘They were batting at a different level’ – Aakash Chopra lauds Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharasan’s record partnership against CSK
Sharing his thoughts on the opening stand, Moody lauded Sudharsan’s temperament and was particularly impressed how the duo maintained the scoring rate throughout their stay in the middle.
“Firstly, the partnership was nothing short of extraordinary. They complemented each other exceptionally well, evident in their visible enjoyment on the field, as Shubman Gill expressed during the post-match presentation. This camaraderie is crucial for any backing and partnership. But the way this young player goes about his business is a joy to watch,” Moody said.
“He seems so calm under pressure. He seems to have the right answers at the right time. He knows when to go big to look for that boundary to take pressure out of an over and he seems to be able to keep pace with the game. Now that game was going at a great rate. The strike rate was very high for a long period of time and they didn’t let CSK and he, in particular, didn’t let CSK settle at all as a bowling unit,” he added.
Moody also spoke on the Gujarat Titans’ fielding effort against CSK, noting the difference between the two sides which made the difference as per him.
“The big difference today was the fielding efforts. Gujarat was very good in the field, they took all their catches, some really good catches. CSK were unlike CSK, just a little sloppy in their performance out there. At the end of the day when you have a high-scoring game like that, in a game where you need to be taking those half chances, you need to be making those excellent sorts of runouts. It’s important for the bowlers when the conditions are difficult for them to survive.”
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There will be huge pressure on CSK in their next games: Varun Aaaron
Former India cricketer Varun Aaron spoke on how the CSK team will be under pressure after their loss as they enter into a must-win territory with a home and away game left.
“Dhoni’s performance was good but at the end of the day CSK would be happier to get the victory. They came up short and there will be huge pressure on them in their next games, and if they don’t win their next game, they have to play that must-win game against Bangalore in Bangalore, with RCB going the way they are at the moment. Yes, Dhoni is batting well, he put on a show for us, but at the end of the day it’s a loss.”
Aaron also reflected on Gill’s return to form and how important it was for him after being unable to repeat his success from the previous edition, when he bagged the Orange Cap with an 890-run season at an average nearly 60, with three centuries and four half-centuries. In contrast, he has 426 runs in 12 innings at 38.72 this year, including his most recent effort against CSK.
“He must have felt like a weight off his shoulders. Those questions only arose because some speculated whether the responsibility was overwhelming for him. But knowing Shubman, that’s never the case. He’s always been a calm and collected character. It was just about him getting off to a good start, especially playing on this type of wicket at home. Gujarat Titans have been playing on slower tracks which don’t necessarily suit his style. I believe the wicket played a significant role in his century, along with the support from his partner today. So, Shubman getting the century is a big statement.”