Gujarat Titans captain Hardik Pandya scored his first half-century in the 2023 Indian Premier League. Pandya scored a 50-ball 66 to guide his side to a total of 135 for 6 in the first innings against KL Rahul’s Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Stadium.
With GT losing star opening batter Shubman Gill in the second over, Pandya decided to promote himself up the order in the absence of regular number 3 batter B Sai Sudharsan. Pandya walked in to bat when GT were reeling at 4 for 1 and formed an important partnership with Wriddhiman Saha.The two batters stuck around for a 68-run stand, settling GT’s innings after a slow start. Saha was the aggressor in their partnership and missed out on a well-deserved half-century by just three runs. Saha was dismissed by Hardik’s brother Krunal Pandya in the 11th over. Saha scored 47 runs off 37 balls, hitting six boundaries.
Following Saha’s departure, wickets kept falling around Pandya with Vijay Shankar and Abhinav Manohar failing to impress. With the pitch not offering much for the batters, Pandya played a cautious captain’s knock to help his side post a respectable total against LSG.
Pandya decided to up the ante in the final overs of the first innings, and even hit Ravi Bishnoi for back-to-back sixes in the 18th over. Pandya then took on Marcus Stoinis in the final over of the game, hitting him for a six before being dismissed on the next delivery. Pandya hit a short and slow delivery by Stoinis straight at KL Rahul at long-on.
