CSK reel under GT’s Gill, Sai tonathon!

Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill (left) and Sai Sudharsan during their 210-run stand against CSK at Ahmedabad yesterday. PIC/PTI

A depleted Chennai Super Kings bowling attack was taken to the cleaners by the Gujarat Titans openers on a featherbed clay pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium on a sultry Friday evening. By the time of going to press, Chennai had lost three wickets for 57 runs in the seventh over while chasing the imposing Titans's score of 231-3.

The new opening pairing of Sai Sudharsan (103, 51 balls, 5x4, 7x6, 201.96 strike rate) and Shubman Gill (104, 55 balls, 9x4, 6x6, 189.9 strike rate) was fruitful for the home team which were sent in to bat after Ruturaj Gaikwad won the toss. Sudharsan used the slog sweep to pronounced effect for his seven hits over the ropes. He even swept seamer Simarjeet Singh over long leg for his first Indian Premier League hundred.

Also Read: T20 World Cup 2024: Sourav Ganguly, Anil Kumble open up on Kohli's role in the mega event

Chennai badly missed their three main seamers - Deepak Chahar, Matheesha Pathirana and Mustafizur Rahman on a wicket that offered no help to bowlers. However, Tushar Deshmukh (4-0-33-2) and Shardul Thakur (4-0-25-0) were somewhat economical, otherwise, the other four bowlers conceded more than 13 runs an over.

A niggle to wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha was like a blessing in disguise for the Titans as their new opening combination of Gill and Sudharsan took off the block with 14 runs in the first over and never looked back, scoring on an average 10 or more runs an over.

Brief scores
GT 231-3 in 20 overs (S Gill 104, S Sudharsan 103; T Deshpande 2-33) v CSK (scores incomplete)