IPL 2023 Final: '20 lakh worth' Sai Sudharsan hogs limelight with big 96

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Sai Sudharsan proved why he is so highly rated by Gujarat Titans captain Hardik Pandya as the left-handed batter clobbered a big 96 runs off just 47 balls to take the defending champions to a huge 214/4 in the IPL 2023 Final in Ahmedabad on Monday.

Sai Sudharsan, who was bought at his base price of Rs 20 lakh during the IPL 2022 mega auction, shot eight 4s and six 6s during the course of his innings as he struck the ball at the rate of 204.26.

His inning came at the right moment for the side as Gujarat Titans were in a spot of bother with in-form Shubman Gill (39) and Wriddhiman Saha (54) back to pavillion as the opening duo set the side for a big total with a sparkling start in the powerplay. The duo was gifted life too as Deepak Chahar dropped them both in the first six overs.

Sai Sudharsan, on the other hand, didn't put a foot wrong on the big day as he saw initial deliveries to get himself set in the middle before going after the CSK bowlers at the back end of the innings.

The 21-year-old cricketer, interestingly, earns more from his Tamil Nadu Premier League contract with Lyca Kovai Kings as the southpaw is th most expensive player i in the league at Rs 21.6 lakh. The batter was always in limelight in the competition as he started his career for Kovai in TNPL with 87 runs on debut.

He converted his form for Gujarat Titans in IPL as well with 35 runs for a winning cause on his debut and finished the season with 145 runs in five games in the first season at an average of 36.25.

Sai Sudharsan became a key member of the Gujarat Titans middle-order in IPL 2023 as he played several key knocks in the side's initial winning run in the league phases. The batter scored two half centuries in the first six matches as well.

However, thereafter he didn't play in five consecutive matches while GT kept mum on the condition of the batter. He returned before the last match of the league stages and lost no form as before the finals, he scored 43 and 47 runs to set himself up for the big final.