Sudarsan rose to nail Gujarat’s chase of 163, which had been reduced to 54/3 at one point, with an impressive 62 not out off 48 balls, and took his team to a six-wicket win over the Capitals at the Arun Jetly Stadium on Tuesday.
“I think it was one of my best strikes because it was from a difficult situation, and we rose to the occasion to make the team win,” he said during a virtual media interaction on Friday.
What stood out from Sudarshan’s strike was a scoop against the hot Enrish Norte for a six and then took out the ramp to reach his fiftieth. “I definitely started practicing and it was the right decision to (shots) against him. So, it definitely comes with practice.”
He further said that his effort is to earn positions for his team rather than seeing his shooting rate. I’m not looking at that (strike rate improvement). I’m just trying to play the situation and then win the situation.”
After a modest spell in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy last year, Sudharsan hit three centuries in the Vijay Hazare Trophy before hitting another two hundred, including one as a debutant, in the Ranji Trophy ahead of IPL 2023.
“He actually started from the IPL last year because the confidence we had after winning the title helped me improve and even prepare for the domestic season. After that, playing in the domestic season gave me a lot of confidence to join the IPL. We had two small camps and a great ten-day preparation.” Coming before this IPL, which helped me a lot.”
Although he started IPL 2023 brightly, Sudharsan has more team goals in mind than personal achievements. “It’s not like personal goals, we have to keep the title we won last year. I don’t have a lot of personal goals but I definitely have to take chances and do good for the team. But it’s more about the team’s goals.”
The 21-year-old Sudarsan first came into the limelight when he hit a 43-ball 87 for Lyca Kovai Kings on their debut in the 2021 Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL). He has acknowledged the TNPL’s role in giving him and other aspiring cricketers a stage to showcase their talent and push them towards playing cricket at the highest level.
“It has given me a tremendous platform. Every youngster wants a platform to showcase their talent, which is TNPL. Last year, I got a chance to play in TNPL and did really well. Then I got a chance to play in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Cup, and from there I got a chance with Gujarat (Titans It was hard to get (here) without a platform like this.”
– Jans
Non/BSc
