Following their defeat against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL 2023 final, Gujarat Titans (GT) captain Hardik Pandya expressed his pride in his team’s performance. Despite the loss, Pandya stated that if they had to concede the title to anyone, he would prefer it to be CSK captain MS Dhoni. In a thrilling encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Ravindra Jadeja’s remarkable display, scoring a six and a four in the last two balls with 10 runs needed, propelled the Chennai Super Kings to their fifth IPL title, triumphing over the defending champions Gujarat Titans by five wickets.
Pandya commended Sai Sudharsan, who displayed immense grit and determination by playing a remarkable inning of 96 runs off just 47 balls, contributing to GT’s imposing total of 214/4. Sudharsan showcased a sensational performance on the grand stage, receiving valuable support from Wriddhiman Saha (54 off 39) and Shubman Gill (39 off 20). Together, they propelled GT to a formidable score before rain forced the match to be shortened to 15 overs.
“As a team, we possess several strengths. Our fighting spirit and collective effort make us proud. We have a motto – we win together, we lose together. I won’t offer any excuses; CSK played better cricket. Our batting performance was exceptional, and I want to give a special mention to Sai Sudharsan. It’s no easy feat to deliver such an outstanding performance at this level. We have been supporting and nurturing our players, striving to bring out their best. However, their success ultimately belongs to them. The way they stepped up and delivered, be it Mohit, Rashid, Shami, or anyone else, is truly commendable,” he expressed.
