Cricket

Gujarat Titans (GT), the reigning Indian Premier League (IPL) champions, are set to retain five key players ahead of the upcoming IPL 2025 mega auction. The franchise is likely to hold onto Shubman Gill, Rashid Khan, B Sai Sudharsan, Rahul Tewatia, and Shahrukh Khan, leaving them with one right-to-match (RTM) card for the auction.Gill and Rashid were acquired by GT before the 2022 auction, while Sudharsan, Tewatia, and Shahrukh were bought in subsequent auctions. Gill, the 23-year-old opener, has been a consistent performer for GT, scoring over 500 runs in each of the past two seasons. He was appointed captain for IPL 2024 after Hardik Pandya's departure.Rashid, the Afghan leg-spinner, is one of the most sought-after bowlers in the IPL. He has been GT's leading wicket-taker in both seasons, with 32 wickets in 2022 and 24 wickets in 2024.Sudharsan, a left-handed batter from Tamil Nadu, has emerged as a promising talent for GT. He was the sixth-highest run-scorer in IPL 2024, with 527 runs at an average of nearly 48. He is considered a potential future Test player for India.Tewatia and Shahrukh are both uncapped all-rounders who have been retained for their power-hitting abilities. Tewatia has played several impactful knocks as a finisher, while Shahrukh is one of the strongest hitters in domestic cricket.GT will have at least INR 51 crore deducted from their purse of INR 120 crore for retaining three international players and two uncapped players. The amounts for each player are not yet known, but GT is free to pay more or less than the minimum deductions set by the IPL.The deadline for franchises to submit their list of retained players is October 31. The mega auction is expected to be held in December or January.

B. Sai Sudharsan's maiden double century in First-Class cricket propelled Tamil Nadu to a dominant start against Delhi in the Ranji Trophy clash at Arun Jaitley Stadium. The 23-year-old opener's unbeaten 202 formed the cornerstone of Tamil Nadu's imposing 379 for one at stumps on day one.Sudharsan's knock was a testament to his exceptional talent and composure. Despite a couple of close calls, he remained unfazed, showcasing his ability to handle pressure with ease. His innings was a blend of aggression and patience, as he punished loose deliveries while respecting the good ones.The opening partnership between Sudharsan and N. Jagadeesan (65) laid the foundation for Tamil Nadu's strong position. The duo put on 168 runs before Jagadeesan was dismissed by Navdeep Saini. Washington Sundar, playing his first Ranji game of the season, then joined Sudharsan and stitched together a second-wicket stand of 211 runs. Sundar remained unbeaten on 96 at the close of play.Delhi's bowling attack lacked penetration, with only Saini managing to break through. The absence of a frontline pacer was evident, as Pranshu Vijayran was forced off the field due to an ankle sprain.Tamil Nadu will be looking to build on their strong start and put themselves in a commanding position on day two. Sudharsan and Sundar will be key to their hopes, as they aim to extend their partnership and pile on the runs.

Tamil Nadu's Narayan Jagadeesan and B Sai Sudharsan put on a dominant batting display to propel their team to a commanding position against former champions Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group D match.Jagadeesan, the Tamil Nadu captain, struck a fluent 100 off 165 deliveries, laced with 11 boundaries. Sudharsan, the young opener, contributed a solid 82 off 159 balls, hitting eight fours. Their 172-run opening partnership laid the foundation for Tamil Nadu's strong start.At stumps on the second day, Tamil Nadu had reached 278 for three, taking a 75-run lead over Saurashtra's first-innings total of 203. Pradosh Ranjan Paul (45 not out) and Boopathi Vaishna Kumar (0 not out) were at the crease.In Chandigarh, Railways set a challenging target of 341 for the hosts, who were struggling at 31/1 at stumps. Chandigarh had earlier bowled out Railways for 147, but their own batting collapsed, with Akash Pandey taking five wickets for just 38 runs.Upendra Yadav's sensational 124 in the second innings helped Railways consolidate their position. Opener Vivek Singh also chipped in with 54 as Railways posted 307 in their second innings.In another Group D tie at Raipur, Delhi made slow progress in their chase of Chhattisgarh's 343. Skipper Himmat Singh remained unbeaten on 50 off 72 balls, while Harsh Tyagi was on six not out. Delhi ended the day on 177/4, trailing by 166 runs.At Guwahati, hosts Assam were in trouble against Jharkhand, trailing by 252 runs in the first innings. None of the Assam batters could convert their starts, with opener Parvez Musaraf top-scoring with 35.

B Sai Sudharsan's remarkable rise in the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been marked by consistency and a quiet brilliance. Despite being ranked fifth among the tournament's highest run-getters, he has flown under the radar, showcasing his exceptional talent as a top-order batter.Sudharsan's breakthrough IPL season came in 2023, where he ended with a stunning 47-ball 96 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the final. His impressive performances earned him an ODI debut against South Africa, where he notched up two fifties in three games.However, a back injury forced him to withdraw from India A's tour of England Lions and potentially miss the final Test against England. Despite this setback, Sudharsan has bounced back with a vengeance in the 2023 IPL, amassing 527 runs in 12 games for Gujarat Titans (GT).His ability to anchor the innings and provide stability has been crucial for GT, even though the team finished eighth in the points table. Sudharsan acknowledges the team's shortcomings but emphasizes the importance of individual contributions.In the final game of the season against CSK, Sudharsan reached a significant milestone, becoming the fastest Indian to 1000 IPL runs. He achieved this feat in just 25 innings, surpassing the previous record held by Sachin Tendulkar and Ruturaj Gaikwad.While Sudharsan's game is more suited to longer formats, he recognizes the need to improve his power-hitting skills. He believes that the modern T20 game demands batters to strike at a higher rate, and he is working on developing this aspect of his game.Sudharsan's consistency and ability to adapt to different situations make him a valuable asset to any team. As he continues to refine his skills, he is poised to become a force to be reckoned with in both domestic and international cricket.

In a thrilling encounter at the Wankhede Stadium, the Gujarat Titans (GT) emerged victorious over the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 35 runs, keeping their playoff hopes alive. Captain Shubman Gill and B Sai Sudharsan played pivotal roles in GT's triumph, smashing scintillating centuries.Gill, the GT skipper, displayed his exceptional batting prowess, scoring 104 runs off just 55 deliveries. His innings was adorned with nine boundaries and six maximums, showcasing his power and precision. Sudharsan, on the other hand, notched his maiden IPL century, amassing 103 runs off 51 balls. His knock was equally impressive, featuring five boundaries and seven sixes.The duo's 210-run partnership, the highest for any wicket in the IPL this season, laid the foundation for GT's massive total of 231/3. Their partnership also equaled the highest-ever IPL opening partnership set by Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul.In contrast, CSK's openers failed to make an impact, with both being dismissed with just two runs on the board. Skipper Rituraj Gaikwad, their leading run-scorer this season, was also sent packing for a duck, leaving CSK reeling at 10/3.Daryl Mitchell and Moeen Ali attempted to revive CSK's innings with a 109-run partnership. Mitchell scored 63 runs, while Ali contributed 56. However, veteran Mohit Sharma's three-wicket haul, including the dismissals of Mitchell and Ali, proved to be a turning point.Rashid Khan also played a crucial role, claiming the wickets of Ravindra Jadeja and Mitchell Santner. Mahendra Singh Dhoni's late cameo of 26 runs, including three sixes, was not enough to prevent CSK from falling short.The victory propelled GT from the bottom of the table to the eighth spot, while CSK remained in fourth place. The win also boosted GT's net run rate, giving them a better chance of qualifying for the playoffs.