Shubman Gill, Sai Sudarshan punish CSK with scintillating tons; Miss out on breaking record by 1 run

On a day when they needed brilliance with the bat, Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill and Sai Sudarshan provided the team with just that. Both batsmen kept on scoring runs in heaps and bounds and eventually completed their centuries. Shubman Gill got there first in 50 balls, and then Sudarshan reached there. He too completed the ton in 50 balls. Courtesy of the hundreds struck by Gill and Sudarshan, Gujarat Titans went past the 200 mark in just 16 overs at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

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Shubman Gill and Sai Sudarshan script century apiece

The incessant striking constructed an opening stand of 210 runs. Gill and Sudarshan tied the record for highest-ever opening partnership in the history of IPL. Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul attained a 210-stand back in 2018 against KKR.

 Sai Sudharsan matched his skipper Shubman Gill stroke for stroke as the two openers notched destructive centuries to propel Gujarat Titans to 231 for three against Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League here on Friday. Gill (104 off 55 deliveries) and Sudarshan (103 off 51 balls) put up a six-hitting exhibition as they notched up a 210-run stand, the highest partnership for any wicket in the IPL this season.

The two also equalled Quinton de kock and KL Rahul's highest-ever IPL opening partnership of 210. While Gill's remarkable innings was punctuated by nine fours and six maximums, Sudharsan's maiden IPL hundred was peppered with five boundaries and seven sixes.

Invited to bat first, Gill timed to perfection an over pitched Mitchell Santner delivery for GT's first boundary of the innings. He then lofted the ball over mid on for a maximum, setting the tone of the game. Gill's lazy elegance was on full display as he hit an effortless six off a Simarjeet Singh delivery over long on into the stands in the sixth over.

At the other end, after a relatively slow start, Sudarshan, who was elevated to the role of an opener, too accelerated. He went down on his knees to hit a slog sweep off star spinner Ravindra Jadeja to get his fifty in 32-balls. A couple of overs later Gill too reached his half-century with a a top edge that went the distance.

The CSK bowlers, barring Shardul Thakur (0/25)who was the most economical, could do little to stop the onslaught by Gill and Sudarshan. CSK's effort in the field was also found wanting, besides general sloppiness, the defending champions, dropped Gill at the boundary.

Tushar Deshpande (2/33) misjudged a mis-hit by Gill and dropped the GT skipper on 72. To add salt to the wounds, not only the dropped catch went for a six, the Daryl Mitchell over yielded 19 runs. Gill soon brought up his fourth IPL hundred by sending a Simarjeet full toss through square leg for four. It was the 100th ton in the history of the IPL and the youngster celebrated rather animatedly.

Sudharsan followed his skipper as he sent a length ball soaring over the fence to bring up his first-ever IPL hundred in style. CSK bowlers then managed to stage a comeback as they gave just 41 runs in the last five overs. Deshpande picked up the wickets of Sudrashan and Gill. 

(With inputs from PTI)