IPL 2023: My plan was to take the game deep and take it through – Sai Sudharsan on his match-winning knock

Gujarat Titans batter Sai Sudharsan has revealed that his plan was to game the game deep and take it through as he helped the Hardik Pandya-led team beat Delhi Capitals by six wickets at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on Tuesday. Sudharsan scored an unbeaten knock of 62 runs off just 48 balls to help GT chase down 163 runs with 11 balls to spare.

The left-hander showed all the resistance on a difficult pitch, which was assisting the seamers. The Tamil Nadu batter scored four fours and two sixes in his knock as he played at the top of his game.

The 21-year-old from Chennai added 53 runs with his state teammate Vijay Shankar and added 56 runs with David Miller to help his team get over the line in the run-chase.

Sai Sudharsan said in the post-match presentation after he was awarded the Player of the Match, “Thanks for backing me. A little bit nervous as this is my first time here. I was thinking what has to be done right. I wasn’t under pressure, I was just calculating the right things. It was a bit low and skidding through, I was thinking to take the right options. My plan was to take the game deep and take it through. Weathering the storm early on (was more satisfying). It was quite difficult, it was seaming initially, and that was the highlight for me.”

On the other hand, David Miller also played a crucial knock of 31 runs off just 16 balls and took the pressure off the youngster’s shoulders towards the end of the run-chase with his fine cameo.

Miller said after the game, “Didn’t have time to get jetlagged. Nice to get a win tonight. We were within range – was a matter of 3 sixes or 4 fours. Just felt like that over needed to go. We started well last year. Built really good momentum. We’ve got mature cricketers in the middle order – Tewatia, and Rashid. Chasing a total, you can panic early. But to stay calm – we’ve done that pretty well. It’s a very relaxed environment. There are times through the games when you get heated, but that’s part of the game.”

GT will next face Kolkata Knight Riders at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Sunday.