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Young batter Sai Sudharsan expressed his anticipation of playing under the captaincy of Shubman Gill for the Gujarat Titans. Sudharsan is confident in Gill's ability to excel as a captain in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL). The announcement of Gill as captain came after Hardik Pandya's trade to the Mumbai Indians (MI) before the IPL 2024 auction. Speaking with IndiaToday.in, he said the valuable learning experience he expects from Gill and emphasised the relatability he shares with his teammate, who is poised for a huge test of character.
In a remarkable trade that grabbed attention in November, Pandya left Gujarat Titans (GT) to join Mumbai Indians (MI) in a cash-only transfer deal. This move surprised many, especially considering Pandya's successful stint as captain with the Gujarat franchise in the previous IPL season. Contrary to scepticism, he demonstrated leadership prowess by guiding the Titans to victory in the inaugural season of IPL 2022. The all-rounder led the team to the final in 2023, despite losing to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
Gujarat Titans (GT) picked Gill as their captain over established senior players such as Kane Williamson and David Miller, reaffirming their willingness to make bold decisions.
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"Gill is a very smart cricketer. He will be a very good captain. I used to relate with Gill a lot. I see him and learn in what ways I can get better as a batter. The way he carries himself, his body language. There are a lot of things to admire about Shubman Gill. At the same time, I can relate to a lot of things, especially in terms of getting better every day as a batter. We have a lot of conversations whenever we have time. They are very useful," Sudharsan said.
Despite missing the U19 World Cup in 2020, Sudharsan has experienced a phenomenal ascent to the top. A significant contributor to his success has been his time with the Gujarat Titans (GT), where the young batter had opportunities to demonstrate his potential within a lineup filled with star players. Vikram Solanki, the Director of Cricket at GT, played a pivotal role in facilitating Sai's debut in the County Championship earlier in 2023.
THE NEHRA IMPACT
During the 2022 season, Sudharsan played five matches and scored 145 runs, which included a half-century. His performance reached sensational heights in 2023, amassing a total of 362 runs. Notably, he played a crucial role in the big final at the Narendra Modi Stadium against the Super Kings, contributing a valiant 96 runs. He praised the team morale within the Titans and highlighted the role of head coach Ashish Nehra in creating platforms for the development and success of young players.
"To be honest, I didn't expect so many opportunities, because youngsters when they get to IPL franchises, I have seen not many get as many opportunities. The environment was terrific. They gave me a lot of game time to express myself at Gujarat Titans”, Sudharsan continued.
"I think he believes in leaving the players to experience things. He has not told me 'do this, do that'. Instead, he will understand what I want to do and create the best possible platform for it. He understands the game and tells us some of the most minute details which will eventually be of great help to improve. Every small thing, from running between the wickets to the intensity on the field, those are very small things, but I think they create a big impact in T20Is.”
Gujarat Titans keeping Sudharsan for IPL 2024 wasn't a shock, and now, the 22-year-old got his first chance to play for India in an ODI series in South Africa in December.
(Powered by AI, Inputs by India Today)
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