An attention-grabbing reality about Sai Sudharsan is that the star batter was signed for Rs 20 lakhs on the 2022 IPL public sale. On a pitch the place the Proteas batting lineup and Ruturaj Gaikwad struggled to impress, Sai hit fifty on his India debut guiding his workforce over the road until the top of the chase.
“Going forward, if I’m not wrong, in two years, he’ll do something great for franchise cricket and eventually for India,” former Gujarat Titans (GT) skipper Hardik Pandya had mentioned about Sai when he performed a sensational knock of 62 off 48 balls towards Delhi Capitals in IPL 2023. Just seven months later, Sai made his Team India debut and scored a fifty towards South Africa.
Sai Sudharsan open his account in worldwide cricket with a stupendous cowl drive.
 What a begin to his worldwide profession pic.twitter.com/29nxoV3ZXy
 CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) December 17, 2023
Earlier this yr, in the course of the first-ever TNPL public sale, Sudharsan emerged because the highest-paid participant. In simply 8 video games, Sudharsan, who returned for the wealthiest league within the globe throughout GT’s title-defending marketing campaign, crushed 362 runs for Pandya and Co. During the earlier season, the Indian batsman scored three half-centuries for the 2022 champions.
By scoring an unimaginable 96 runs off of 47 balls within the IPL 2023 closing between GT and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Narendra Modi Stadium, Sudharsan additional enhanced his fame.
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Coming to the match, following his aspect’s eight-wicket win over South Africa within the first ODI, Indian skipper KL Rahul mentioned that it was lastly nice to have a win within the nation after dropping three ODIs as a captain final yr.
KL’s males took a 1-0 lead within the collection, beating South Africa by eight wickets within the first ODI at Johannesburg on Sunday. Arshdeep Singh’s five-wicket haul and fifties by debutant Sai Sudarshan and Shreyas Iyer had been the important thing highlights for Men in Blue. (EXPLAINED: Why Ishan Kishan Has Withdrawn From Test Series Vs South Africa)
Last yr in South Africa, India misplaced the ODI collection towards Proteas right here by 3-0, dropping two shut matches by 31 runs and 4 runs and the opposite by seven wickets.
“Lost three ODIs as captain here last time around. Good to get a win here in SA today. The plans were to bring the spinners into the game, but there was a lot of help in the wicket early and the boys [pacers] bowled really well. (Chopping and changing players in the XI, especially the bowling attack) It is just how cricket is being played in the last couple of years. You have to rest some players, you prioritise one format every now and then. Now it is T20s and Tests. But we want to take guys who are doing their best. Everyone is doing well in first class and IPL too, so good for them to get a taste too,” mentioned KL within the post-match presentation.
Coming to the match, Proteas opted to bat first. But Indian pacers Arshdeep and Avesh Khan proved that call to be deadly for Proteas. Only De Zorzi (28 in 22 balls, with two fours and two sixes) and Phehlukwayo (33 in 49 balls, with three fours and two sixes) may contribute one thing respectable as SA was bundled out for 116 in 27.3 overs. Arshdeep (5/37) and Avesh (4/27) had been the highest bowlers for India. Spinner Kuldeep Yadav obtained one wicket for India.
In the run chase of 117, India misplaced Ruturaj Gaikwad (5) early, however fifties from debutant Sai Sudarshan (55 in 43 balls, with 9 fours) and Shreyas Iyer (52 in 45 balls, with six fours and a six) sealed the sport for India with over 33 overs to spare. Wiaan Mulder and Andile Phehlukwayo obtained a wicket every. Arshdeep took house the ‘Player of the Match’ award. (With ANI inputs)