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The Gujarat Titans (GT) showcased a dominant performance against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), highlighting SRH's struggles with both batting and bowling. Despite being touted as playoff contenders, SRH appeared directionless, failing to address the flaws from the previous year. While the bowling department showed some improvements, their batting performance became a significant concern, creating unexpected headaches for the team management. The Titans' victory can be attributed to a combination of exceptional bowling led by Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, and a composed batting display anchored by Shubman Gill and supported by Washington Sundar. SRH's inability to capitalize on their batting potential and the Titans' clinical execution resulted in a comprehensive win for GT.
The Gujarat Titans' chase of 153 began precariously, with Mohammed Shami and Cummins quickly dismissing the in-form Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler. This early setback raised hopes for SRH, suggesting they might put up a strong fight in front of their home crowd. However, Washington Sundar and Shubman Gill swiftly extinguished these hopes with a stylish and effective partnership, steering GT towards victory. Sundar adopted an aggressive approach from the outset, while Gill initially played a supporting role. Their 90-run partnership, forged in just 56 balls, significantly shifted the momentum of the game. Sundar, utilizing his height and reach, capitalized on short-pitched deliveries, particularly exploiting Simarjeet Singh in the final powerplay over, scoring 20 runs. He expertly used Simarjeet's pace to find the boundaries, showcasing his ability to turn the tide of the match. As a former SRH player who spent much time on the bench, Sundar's performance against his former team was particularly satisfying, contributing a valuable 49 off 29 balls. Following the powerplay, Gill, who had a relatively quiet tournament thus far, expanded his game and unleashed a series of elegant boundaries. Displaying his characteristic grace, he drove the ball with precision and maintained a steady pace towards the target. With victory within sight, Sundar departed, just one run short of his half-century. Gill seamlessly transitioned from an anchor role to a finisher, taking complete control of the chase. The final stages of the innings were smooth and calculated, with Gill demonstrating impeccable command. Sherfane Rutherford added further insult to SRH's bowlers with a quick-fire 35 off only 16 balls, compounding their misery and sealing the win for Gujarat Titans. This batting performance was a masterclass in adaptability and composure under pressure.
However, the Titans' victory was not solely attributable to their batting prowess; the bowling pair of Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna played a crucial role in setting up the win. Siraj and Krishna, while not typically considered bowlers that would induce fear in T20 opponents, proved to be highly effective in dismantling batting line-ups. Prasidh is known for his ability to hit the deck hard, generating awkward lift for batsmen, while Siraj excels in extracting seam movement with fuller and good lengths. Despite lacking a wide array of variations that might attract high bids in auctions, their combined skills have made them formidable. While attention is often focused on Rashid Khan and his spin bowling, Siraj and Prasidh have consistently emerged as significant destroyers of batting orders. The match against SRH was no different. Siraj has developed a habit of striking early with the new ball this season, and he continued this trend by dismissing Travis Head early on. Head, after scoring a couple of boundaries, chipped a ball straight to mid-wicket. In his third over during the Powerplay, Siraj removed Abhishek Sharma, caught by mid-on. Returning in the 19th over, Siraj dismissed Aniket Verma and Simarjeet Singh with accurately executed fuller deliveries. The dismissal of Verma was particularly noteworthy, a near-perfect in-swinging yorker that struck his front leg, reminiscent of his tennis ball and local league days. Siraj troubled the SRH batsmen in multiple ways. His ball zipped on a surface that was slightly slower, then would either stop or move inwards dramatically towards right-handers, thanks to his subtle seam positions. The execution was precise, leaving SRH batsmen with few answers to the questions he posed. Prasidh, on the other hand, has seamlessly transitioned into his new role as a middle-over enforcer. His first over, the last of the powerplay, saw him immediately dismiss Ishan Kishan with a short ball, followed by the dismissal of left-handed Kamindu Mendis with another short delivery. Prasidh effectively squeezed the SRH batters through the middle overs using his slower ball variation combined with back-of-the-length deliveries. The combined figures for Siraj and Prasidh were impressive: 8 overs, 42 runs, and 6 wickets.
Despite possessing the inherent power to score 300, SRH's batting has struggled to deliver a power-packed performance consistently. After posting 286 runs in their first game, the batting lineup has failed to replicate that success. In the match against GT, they adopted a more cautious approach, which also proved ineffective, leaving the batsmen looking conflicted. Abhishek, known for his aggressive style, appeared hesitant, as did Ishan Kishan, both scoring at strike rates below 115. Nitish Kumar Reddy's innings epitomized SRH's muddled approach. His 31-ball 34 reflected the confusion caused by a change in his natural game. While Henrich Klaasen attempted to play his natural game, the slowish nature of the surface hampered his efforts. Sai Kishore bowled him with a wickedly spinning armer, and also ended Nitish's misery, extinguishing any hopes of a par score on the surface. In the end, captain Pat Cummins used his long levers to push SRH to 152. However, the total was insufficient, as proven by the Titans' comfortable chase. The SRH batting lineup needs a careful revision of their plans rather than drastic changes. A clear strategy and a return to their natural aggressive approach may be the key to unlocking their full potential. The GT vs SRH match highlighted the importance of a balanced approach, combining strong bowling with composed batting, and demonstrated the consequences of a team struggling with both aspects of the game.
Source: How Mohammed Siraj made his homecoming grand with a four-for