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In T20 cricket, the majority of teams currently opt to chase. The days of the side batting later being overwhelmed by the total on the board are long gone. If there is dew and the ground is thin, as it frequently is in the subcontinent, that just strengthens the chasing team’s confidence.
During the IPL 2023 cricket match between the Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Titans at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, Gujarat Titans batsmen David Miller and Sai Sudarshan can be seen racing between the wickets. Ravi Chowdhary/PTI Picture; PTI04 04 2023 000382B (PTI)
None of this, however, should take away from Gujarat Titans’ accomplishment as IPL winners for successfully pursuing the aim. They have won two of two games this season after winning eight of nine games while batting second in their maiden, championship-winning campaign last year. By doing so, he raised his total number of victories from 11 to 10, enhancing his reputation as a nearly unbeatable chaser.
They were in trouble against the Delhi Capitals on Tuesday night at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium; after six overs, they were 54/3, with Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha, and captain Hardik Pandya cooling their heels in the dugout. The panic button, nevertheless, was never depressed.
As Vijay Shankar was lost in the 14th over, the Titans still required 56 runs off of 40 balls despite Sai Sudarshan and Vijay Shankar’s crucial 53-run stand for the fourth wicket. The Titans would score the final 29 runs in 29 balls because to David Miller’s introduction and great strength and finishing abilities.
Miller punished a length delivery from bowler Mukesh Kumar by sending it over midwicket for a six after six balls of poking and probing. When the ball flew over mid-on for Miller’s second six, Kumar again craned his neck to follow it with a wide as the pressure was immediately transferred to the fielding squad. There, the game was all but over.
Miller averaged 175.5 for the team and struck out at 155.3 with a top score of 94 in the 10 chases he participated in after scoring an unbeaten 16-ball 31 on Tuesday.
Do the Titans think they can surpass any goal total?
Miller, who was unable to attend the Titans’ opening match against the Netherlands, told reporters, “Yes.” “We have chased our target extremely calmly. Having confidence is crucial. Both in the first two games and last season, we had great success. As a squad, we unquestionably gain a lot of confidence from it. It involves making the proper decisions under pressure. Making the right choices and holding off on panicking are the most important things. And throughout, you must continue to calculate.
Miller emphasizes the Titans’ composure in pursuit as one of the crucial elements in their success. That starts at the top, where Pandya and Ashish Nehra, the team’s captain and coach, consistently project a relaxed demeanor.
“Hardik is unquestionably among the best leaders I’ve ever worked with. He is a somebody that gives the team a lot of confidence, according to Miller.
In 2022, the middle order of Pandya, Miller, and Rahul Tewatia, who could rescue the Titans from certain defeat, was significantly responsible for their success. His three victories all came in the championship or on the very last shot. They are arguably stronger this year, which should serve as a warning to other teams.
Gill is batting better than ever, despite the fact that he was the team’s second-highest run scorer previous season with 483 runs. Down in the order Tewatia and Rashid Khan would not be needed either if the opener can get off to a fast start like he did in the first game against Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
Sudarshan, a 21-year-old, has likewise steadily risen to No. 3. The left-handed batsman, who had a great home season for Tamil Nadu, is expected to have a bigger part this year after hitting 145 runs in five matches in his debut season. , He was the third-highest run-scorer with 610 at 76.25 in the national 50-over competition known as the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
“Sudarshan participated in a few games last season. The squad has really appreciated what he did in the first two games, Miller said of his young comrade. “He is a player with tremendous talent, and we need him on the club. Throughout, he made the proper choices. It’s encouraging to see how well he’s doing.”
The Titans are in excellent shape to mount a significant title defense as a result of all of this.
Vivek Krishnan is a sports journalist who loves to cover cricket and football among other subjects. He wanted to be a cricketer himself but happily agreed to watch and write about different sports.