IPL 2023: Titans zip on the fast lane

A stylish Sudharsan wraps up Titans’ second win, after a hostile pace duet of Shami and Joseph, putting to waste Axar’s brave hand.
Gujarat Titans’ Sai Sudharsan plays a shot. (AP)
Rishabh Pant’s presence in the stadium failed to inspire Delhi Capitals as they suffered their second straight defeat of the season. Restricted to 162 for eight Titans, Delhi could not stop Sudharsan and Miller, who combined 56 runs in 4.5 overs, from running away with a comfortable win.
Stylish Sudharsan
The 21-year-old Tamil Nadu batsman showed why he is such a special talent and doesn’t have any stage fright. It takes courage to essay a scoop off Nortje, who was breathing fire. He then upper cut the raging South African for a four, before smearing him over fine-leg for a maximum.
Chasing a modest 162, Titans were off the block courtesy of Wriddhiman Saha, who smoked a couple of boundaries and one six in the first over of Delhi Capitals Impact Player Khaleel Ahmed. Shubman Gill, too had a rollicking start as he got off the mark with two delectable boundaries of Mukesh Kumar. Nortje showed what Delhi missed in the first match. The South African speedster served Gujarat Titans a taste of their own medicine. He knocked off Saha with a nip-backer and then rattled Shubman Gill’s off stump with a 149 kph corker.
In the last powerplay-ball, Khaleel Ahmed produced a peach to dismiss Titans skipper Hardik Pandya, squaring him up and taking the outside edge to the keeper Abishek Porel. But Sudharsan oozed composure. He kept the Titans’ chase on course with Tamil Nadu teammate Vijay Shanker (Impact Player). The duo put on 53 runs for the fourth wicket and steadied the innings.
Gujarat Titans’ Sai Sudharsan plays a shot during the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match. (AP Photo)
With 55 needed off 38 balls, David Miller walked in and settled the game with some ferocious strikes. He took Mukesh Kumar to the cleaners, hitting him for two sixes and one four to snuff the fading hopes of a Delhi comeback. But it was Sudharsan who anchored the chase, showing assurance and grace that could make him a hot talent.
Shami-Joseph duet
There’s no better sight in cricket than Shami hitting those probing lengths and torturing batsmen. With the new ball, he had David Warner hopping and groping. He even hit Warner’s stumps, only for the bails to remain unmoved.
A ball later, Shami again cut Warner in half. The fifth ball of the over, Warner was beaten again. Although the umpires gave it a boundary, it deflected off his pads. He, though, was erratic with his length and was unable to control the swing.
Mohammed Shami bowls during the IPL 2023 cricket match. (PTI Photo)
But Warner’s nightmare continued, as it was for Prithvi Shaw. If Mark Wood got Shaw with a full ball in Lucknow, Shami consumed him with a short one. Shaw was rushed off the surface, he looked to pull it and ballooned it straight to Joseph at mid-on.
Shami was not done yet. Captain Pandya gave him a third straight over. Mitchell Marsh hit him for a boundary on the first ball but Shami had the last laugh as he cleaned up the Capitals No 3 in the next ball. Marsh managed a thick inside edge and the ball rattled into the stumps. Shami was expensive in his spell and was all over the place, but he reaped the reward whenever he pitched it right.
The evening, though, belonged to Joseph. Erratic to begin, he hit the straps in the next over, devouring both Warner and Rilee Rossouw. Warner tried to cut a short ball that clocked 145.5 kph with an angled bat and he chopped on. Next ball, Joseph bowled a 148.8 kph brute at Rilee Rossouw. The southpaw fended it awkwardly, the ball looped off the shoulder of the bat and Rahul Tewatia dived forward to pouch a blinder. Joseph almost had a hat trick as debutant Abhishek Porel almost played it straight to mid-on.

Two in Two Alzarri Joseph 🔥🔥
Watch them here 👇👇
Live – https://t.co/9Zy9HcuWS6 #TATAIPL #DCvGT #IPL2023 pic.twitter.com/ocfJEm9uuQ
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 4, 2023
Joseph tested Sarfaraz Khan and Porel with the nasty short-pitch stuff, reminiscent of heyday Caribbean quicks. He pinged hoth Delhi batsmen on the helmet. Sarfaraz never recovered from the hit before Rashid Khan ended his painstaking knock of 30 from 34.
Porel, Rishab Pant’s replacement, showed fearlessness hitting a six off Joseph’s bowling, only for Yash Dayal to cross the ropes after taking a one-handed stunner. The very next ball, Porel was struck flush on the helmet. Later, Khan ended Porel’s 11-ball cameo of 20 runs.
Axar sizzles
On the eve of the match, Capitals team Director Sourav Ganguly had said that all-rounder Axar Patel would be promoted at No 6, and the ever-improving all-rounder again showed his worth with a brilliant 22-ball 36, hitting two boundaries and three sixes. It was Axar’s effort that lifted Capitals to the competitive total. He struck some glorious shots, none as clean as a slug off Khan over long-on. In the end, it was his effort that provided the Capitals’ bowlers something to bowl at.