Cricket News

Hardik Pandya names his most ‘reliable player’ in GT squad in IPL 2023

Gujarat Titans have had yet another unbelievable season in the IPL. The went into 2023 with a much better strengthened squad and had all bases covered. GT made it to the finals of IPL 2023 after a comprehensive 62 run win over the Mumbai Indians. Hardik revealed his go to man in crisis situations and named Rashid Khan as that person. Rashid has been amongst the wickets and still in the Purple cap race.

The wrist spinner has picked up 27 wickets from 16 games at an average of 18.81. “(On Rashid) I think we’ve spoken enough about him. He’s been the man I can rely on when the team is in a tough situation,” Pandya quoted by the Print. Then he lauded Shubman Gill and said his knock was one of the ‘finest’.

The clarity and confidence that Shubman Gill has is amazing – Hardik Pandya

“(On Shubman) Today’s innings was one of the finest, he never looked rushed. It felt like someone was throwing balls and he was hitting. He will be a superstar in international and franchise cricket. I do have conversations with him, I try that people feed off my energy. I think the clarity and confidence he is carrying is amazing,” Gill has kept raising the bar in IPL 2023. IPL 2023 will be remembered as the season of Gill.

The 23-year-old has scored 851 runs in 16 matches at an average of 60.78 and at a strike rate of 156.43. The right-hander has scored three hundreds and four fifties. He beat Faf du Plessis in the Orange Cap race and now is the leading run scorer of the tournament. Gill will remain the leading run scorer irrespective of what happens in the final. GT will face Chennai Super Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and will be looking to defend their title.

GT’s batting has been brilliant, but their main strength has been the bowling. When we look at the stats, there are three bowlers from GT who are in the Purple Cap race, Mohammad Shami has picked up 28 wickets in 16 games, there is also Rashid. Mohit Sharma the comeback man has quite a story. The Haryana pacer has 24 scalps to his credit. This explains GT’s terrfic bowling performances which have allowed them to get to the 2023 IPL final.