Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has singled out Sai Sudharsan for praise after the Gujarat Titans batter delivered a confident, high-tempo knock in a tense chase that ended in a narrow defeat to the Rajasthan Royals. Ashwin said Sudharsan’s success came from his ability to read the situation early and then take ownership, even with the team’s regular captain unavailable.
Sudharsan struck 73 off 44 balls in Shubman Gill’s absence, steering the innings with clear intent throughout. The Titans were chasing in a match packed with runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Saturday, but they fell short despite a late push that kept Rajasthan under pressure.
Quick facts
- Ravichandran Ashwin praised Sai Sudharsan’s 73 off 44 in Gujarat Titans’ narrow loss to Rajasthan Royals.
- Gujarat’s regular skipper Shubman Gill missed the game due to a muscle spasm.
- Rashid Khan led Gujarat in Gill’s absence.
- Rajasthan defended a target of 210, winning to secure their second straight victory.
- Riyan Parag said the plan at the death was to attack the stumps with pace.
- Dhruv Jurel’s suggestion saw Jofra Archer bowl the penultimate over.
- Archer bowled a tight 19th over, and Tushar Deshpande defended 10 runs in the final over.
Ashwin highlighted how Sudharsan adjusted immediately once he knew Gill was not playing. He pointed to the batter’s strong start, saying it reflected a good grasp of his own strengths and how to apply them against the bowling changes that come in high-pressure periods.
In his breakdown, Ashwin noted that Sudharsan made effective use of pace by guiding the ball towards third man, before shifting gears into front-foot cover drives. He also described how the batter did not wait for the perfect moment, taking on Ravindra Jadeja as soon as the all-rounder came into the attack.
Ashwin added that the aggressive intent continued with a slog sweep, underscoring Sudharsan’s balance between timing and risk-taking. He framed it as an example of clarity under responsibility, rather than simply a one-off burst of runs.
Gill’s absence and what comes next
Gill’s absence was a key storyline in the match, with the muscle spasm ruling him out against RR. Rashid Khan captained Gujarat Titans, and Ashwin suggested that once Gill is back, the opening partnership between Gill and Sudharsan will become central to the team’s forward momentum.
Ashwin emphasized that Sudharsan’s “strong areas” were the platform for his knock, and that the batter needs to keep carrying the innings at a good tempo. He also stressed that losing Gill was a significant blow for Gujarat, making the return of the opening combination even more important for the side’s plans.
Rajasthan, meanwhile, held their nerve in a game where the finish threatened to swing late. With their second consecutive win, the Royals climbed to the top of the points table, buoyed by a healthy net run rate after successfully defending a challenging total.
RR hold nerve in high-scoring clash
Rajasthan set a formidable 210 to bat on, and despite Gujarat’s late surge, the Royals repeatedly tightened the screws in the final overs. Rashid Khan and Kagiso Rabada brought danger into the equation, but Rajasthan’s death-bowling execution ultimately prevented a dramatic turnaround.
Captain Riyan Parag explained the tactical focus at the death: attack the stumps with pace and limit the batters’ space to swing freely. He also admitted that there was a momentary consideration of adjusting the bowling order, before crediting Dhruv Jurel for the suggestion that Jofra Archer take charge of the penultimate over.
The call paid off. Archer produced a tight 19th over, leaning on pace and experience to keep Gujarat’s chase under control. Then Tushar Deshpande handled the final over, defending 10 runs to seal the victory and keep Rajasthan’s winning run intact.
