“Hardik Pandya touched him to find out if he was real”: 23-year-old Indian player impresses former opener

Mumbai Indians have qualified for Qualifier 2 after going past the challenge of Gujarat Titans in New Chandigarh on May 30. The five-time champions registered a 20-run win over the rivals emphatically. Sai Sudharsan had kept Gujarat ahead in the game, but his dismissal ended his franchise’s chances. The southpaw again played a quality knock under pressure, and fans and former players applauded his fours and sixes.

The 23-year-old amassed 80 runs off 49 balls in a chase of 229 runs on a batting-friendly wicket. Sai hit 10 fours and a six, with his run coming at a strike rate of above 160. He became the only batter in the 18th season to take his tally to above 700 runs.

In 15 matches, he scored 759 runs at an average of 54.21 and a strike rate of 156.17, including one hundred and six fifties.

Former India player Aakash Chopra was impressed and hailed the young batter, who has been picked for the England Test series.

“He was unbelievable and sensational. Hardik Pandya touched him several times to find out if he was real. Hardik must be saying that how can you score like that. Sai changed the feel of T20 cricket. You thrown anything at him, it is not going to be enough,” Aakash Chopra said.

Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah was once again the difference. Sai and Washington Sundar were proving to be unstoppable before Pandya gave the 14th over to the speedster. He bowled a perfect Yorker to get rid of Sundar, who scored 48 runs. His last and the 18th over of the GT run chase kept the batters under control, with Hardik’s team restricting the rivals to 208/6 in 20 overs. He conceded just 27 runs from his four overs. However, the Player of the Match went to Rohit Sharma, who posted 81 runs off 50 balls.

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