Gujarat Titans batter Sai Sudharsan scored a blistering 47-ball 96, a knock punctuated by eight boundaries and six maximums, to power his side to 214 for four in their allotted 20 overs in the Indian Premier League final against Chennai Super Kings in Ahmedabad yesterday. Photo: AFP
Powered by an incredible knock from Sai Sudharsan, Gujarat Titans posted 214 for four in the Indian Premier League final against Chennai Super Kings yesterday.
Chennai skipper MS Dhoni, who was likely stepping out as a player for the last time, won the toss and elected to bowl first against the reigning champions but Chennai’s bowlers failed to make much of an impact.
Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha stitched together an opening stand of 67 runs in 7 overs before the former departed for a 20-ball 39. Saha chipped in with a 39-ball 54.
Sudharsan then came on and stole the show, with a 47-ball 96 that was punctuated by eight boundaries and six maximums. Unfortunately, he fell short of a century as he was trapped leg before by Matheesha Pathirana.
However, the formidable target means that Gujarat were in a good position to deny Chennai a record-equalling fifth title at the world’s biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad and instead extend Gujarat’s fairytale journey, which began with a title in their debut season last year.
After hammering Mumbai Indians, who have a record five titles, in the final playoff, Hardik Pandya returned with the same team.
The final was shifted to Monday after play was washed out on Sunday without a ball being bowled due to rain and thunderstorms.
