IPL 2023: News - "I’d rather land the first punch than take the first punch" - Hardik Pandya

Gujarat Titans registered a convincing win over Delhi Capitals in the 7th match of the ongoing IPL 2023, courtesy of a stunning knock from Sai Sudharsan and David Miller. And, the Gujarat captain Hardik Pandya sees Sai Sudharsan doing “great things” in franchise cricket in the next two years as well.

However, Sudharsan made an unbeaten 62 off 48 balls as Titans beat Delhi Capitals for their second win as many games in the tournament.

“He (Sai Sudharsan) is been batting terrifically. Credit to the support staff and to him as well. 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,” said Hardik Pandya at the post-match presentation.

He also said the winning mantra for him is to back his instincts as well. However, opting to bowl, Pandya made some great bowling changes to restrict the home team Delhi Capitals to a moderate total of 162/8 before winning the contest by six wickets with 11 balls in hand as well.

“It is my instinct. I like to back myself. I’d rather back me and fall down than taking others’ decision. I’d rather land the first punch than take the first punch,” Hardik Pandya said.

“It swung more than I anticipated” – David Warner

However, while chasing 163, Gujarat Titans lost their key wickets of Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya to be 54/3 inside the Powerplay. But the young Sai Sudharshan showed great composure to anchor the chase with an unbeaten effort alongside the veteran David Miller. And, Pandya further said that they had a “funny” start and conceded 15-20 runs extra in the Powerplay.

“It was little funny at the start. We didn’t know what was happening but something was happening. We gave away 15-20 runs more in the powerplay. But our bowlers did well to bounce back,” Hardik Pandya further added.

For Delhi Capitals, this was their second consecutive loss in IPL 2023, having lost their campaign opener to Lucknow Super Giants as well.

Meanwhile, David Warner blamed it on the conditions and also he did not use Axar Patel while bowling, saying that it was a match-up strategy.

“It swung more than I anticipated. Losing wickets in the powerplay can be struggle. They showed how to adapt to the situation and it is a learning for us. We have got six more games here and anticipate the swing upfront. They bowled extremely well. We were in the game but Sai batted extremely well and David Miller took it away,” concluded David Warner.