IPL 2023: Hardik Pandya expects this young cricketer to play for India in two years

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Hardik Pandya heaped praises on Sai Sudharsan for scoring a match-winning 48-ball 62 not out as his side Gujarat Titans defeated Delhi Capitals by six wickets in match seven of the IPL 2023 in New Delhi. Unheralded Sudharsan came to the rescue of the side after Anrich Nortje spell put Delhi at the front while defending a 163-run target in front of the home crowd.

Hardik Pandya and his side have now won two matches on the trot as they defeated Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2023 season opener last week. Sudharsan, however, was the star on Tuesday night as he had a crucial 53-run stand with impact substitute Vijay Shankar (27). He then finished off the game with another unbeaten stand with David Miller, who struck some killer blows to the Capitals during his knock of 31 not out.

"He (Sudharsan) is been batting terrifically. Credit to the support staff and to him as well," said Pandya at the post-match presentation ceremony ."The amount of batting he's done in the last 15 days, all the result you see is all his hard work. Going forward, if I'm not wrong, in two years, he'll do something great for franchise cricket and eventually for India cricket as well."

Sai Sudharshan, who also collected the Man of the Match award, was thankful to Hardik Pandya for backing him up. He added that his favourite moment of the match wasn't hitting a pacey Anrich Nortje for a couple of sixes but seeing out his initial wrath when the express pacer dislodged two big wickets of Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha.

"Thanks for backing me. A little bit nervous as this is my first time here. I was thinking what has to be done right. My plan was to take the game deep and taking it through. Weathering the storm early on (was more satisfying). It was quite difficult, it was seaming initially, that was the highlight for me," Sudharsan said.