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Gujarat Titans (GT) have found of late after a slow start to their campaign. On May 16, they dropped crucial catches which led to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) setting a daunting target of 248. The batters put up a fight but it wasn’t enough to get them over the line. In the slog overs, when Sunil Narine got the better of skipper Shubman Gill, GT made a surprise call by sending in Sai Sudharsan to bat. Sudharsan had left the field retired hurt in the powerplay overs. GT needed 71 runs from 22 balls, but they chose not to send the big-hitter Jason Holder in the middle. After the 29-run loss, assistant coach Parthiv Patel defended the decision, saying Sudharsan’s strike rate is not an issue.
"Sai Sudharsan can play, obviously he does not look like that. He hits the ball, but he hits the ball very well," Parthiv said in the post-match press conference.
“[There are] no problems with Sudharsan's strike rate either, and he has the game to play up the order and down the order in slog overs."
How Sudharsan fared in slog overs?
Sudharsan left the field when he was on a 13-ball 23. In the slog overs, he tried to hit big but Jos Buttler wasn't at his best. In the end, Sudharsan remained unbeaten on a 28-ball 53, scoring 30 runs from 15 balls in the slog overs. He also reclaimed the orange cap with his seventh fifty-plus score of the season.
However, at that point, GT needed someone who can hit sixes on the trot, especially considering batting-friendly track and small boundaries at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
After Buttler fell on the fifth ball of the penultimate over, GT did send their designated finisher, Rahul Tewatia out to bat. But, GT needed 40 runs from the remaining seven deliveries. They ended up losing their fifth match of the season.
How GT can qualify for playoffs?
While GT are second on the points table, their next game is a perform or perish situation. They face Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on May 21 at home. A win will ensure they reach the playoffs. Also, top-two finish is possible as well. If they lose to CSK, they will have to depend on results of other games to qualify for last four.
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