Gujarat Titans (GT) skipper, Hardik Pandya has been hailed by former Indian cricketer, Mohammad Kaif for his captaincy in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, as GT has won three games in four fixtures it played this season.
Whereas in the last edition in 2022, the Hardik-led side lifted the title in their inaugural edition. Now, for their fifth game of the 16th edition of IPL, they will take on Rajasthan Royals (RR).
Mohammad Kaif thinks Hardik Pandya will not think about the defeat against KKR-
“Hardik Pandya is a captain who keeps looking forward, he doesn’t dwell on the past much. They lost the match and got over it. Now, they’re ready for a new match. This team is very positive. This team looks to maintain its momentum because when you are playing to defend the title, you need that momentum,” said the Ex-Indian cricketer.
While, the one defeat that defending champions faced this season was against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), as Rinku Singh smashed five sixes in the last over, to chase down the target of 205 runs, in their second home game, while in that game, Pandya took the rest and in his place stand-in skipper was Rashid Khan leading for GT.
Only a few more hours to go… Gujarat Titans are ready to go ⚡️?#AavaDe | #GTvRR | #TATAIPL 2023 pic.twitter.com/uHxXE8Ek9F
— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) April 16, 2023
“Rajasthan Royals are looking a very strong team in TATA IPL 2023. This team is playing excellent cricket this season as well. Their batting looks very strong. They have quality bowlers. Sanju Samson is leading the team like a great captain,” said Yusuf Pathan on Star Sports’ Cricket Live.
In the Gujarat-based side’s last game, PBKS vs GT, Hardik Pandya-led side started well during the run chase with an opening stand of 48 between Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill.
Saha was dismissed in the 5th, however, Gill batted till the last eventually he was clean bowled by Sam Curran on the second delivery of the 20th over when six runs were required to chase down the target. However, GT chased down the target of 154 runs with one ball remaining after Rahul Tewatia hit the boundary on the second last ball.