Irfan Pathan commended the performance of young Gujarat Titans’ batter Sai Sudharsan in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Sudharsan was given an opportunity in the playing XI after Williamson’s injury in the IPL 2023 opener against CSK on March 31. Sudharsan played a significant role in Gujarat’s two victories in the tournament.
Pathan lauded Sudharsan for utilizing his chance to bat at No. 3 for the defending champions in their first two matches. The 38-year-old highlighted that the youngster was exceptional in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL). Sudharsan’s performance in the TNPL led to his selection in the IPL team.
“He became a good player in the TNPL as well. His salary in the TNPL is more than the IPL. It is extremely enjoyable to see the experience he has gained in the last one year. And someone’s loss is someone else’s gain,”
Irfan said.
Being a lefty helped his cause: Irfan
According to Pathan, Sudharsan’s position as a left-handed batsman will be advantageous for Gujarat Titans. He expressed that if the young batter continues to perform consistently, he will be valuable in maintaining a left-right batting combination on various pitches. The batsmen are already displaying their best performances in the tournament, and the race for the Orange Cap has begun.
“If it is a loss for an international player because of him not being there, this young player has grabbed that chance with both hands. Sudharsan is a left-handed batter, so the better he performs, he will come in very handy to maintain a left-right batting combination on pitches that help the bowlers while batting at No. 3,”
Pathan further added.
On April 4, Gujarat Titans won the toss and chose to field first against Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. The Titans restricted the Capitals to 162/8. Sai Sudharsan, aged 21, played a crucial role in helping chase the target by scoring an unbeaten 62 off 48 balls. As a result, the Titans won the match with six wickets and 11 deliveries to spare. The next game for Gujarat Titans is against KKR on April 9.
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