- Shamser Khalid
Kohli Posts Tribute for Wriddhiman Saha's Batting
In a thrilling encounter, Gujarat Titans hosted Lucknow Super Giants at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, May 7. The Titans won the toss and opted to bat first, and it proved to be a wise decision as they piled up a mammoth score of 227 runs in their 20 overs, thanks to a stunning knock from Wriddhiman Saha.
Saha, who has been in excellent form throughout the IPL season, opened the batting with Shubman Gill, and the duo provided a solid start to their team. Saha played with aggression and purpose and scored a quick-fire 81 off just 43 balls. His innings were studded with ten boundaries and four sixes, and he looked set to score his second IPL century before being dismissed by substitute fielder Perak Mankad.
Reactions to Saha's Performance
Saha's innings earned praise from the cricket fraternity, with Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli leading the way. Kohli took to Instagram to write a special three-word message of praise for the 38-year-old Indian wicketkeeper, "What a player."
After Saha's dismissal, Gill and Hardik Pandya continued to score at a brisk pace and ensured that Gujarat Titans finished with a massive score of 227. Gill remained unbeaten on 94 off just 51 balls, while Pandya played a useful cameo of 25 off 15 balls.
In response, Lucknow Super Giants got off to a decent start, with their openers scoring 41 runs in the first four overs. However, they lost wickets at regular intervals and were eventually bowled out for 183 in the 19th over, giving Gujarat Titans a comprehensive win by 44 runs.
With this win, Gujarat Titans moved to the third spot in the IPL points table, while Lucknow Super Giants remained in sixth place.
Kohli and Saha's Relationship
Talking about Kohli, he had a mixed day on Saturday as he became the first player to complete 7,000 runs in IPL history during RCB's clash against Delhi Capitals (DC) at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium. Kohli scored his sixth half-century of the season, but it was not enough as DC won the game by seven wickets with 20 balls to spare. RCB now faces an uphill battle to qualify for the playoffs after the defeat.
Saha and Kohli were teammates on the Indian team for a long period of time, and Saha played most of his Test career for the national team under Kohli's captaincy. Kohli's message of praise for Saha shows the camaraderie and mutual respect that exists between the two players.
Saha has had a brilliant season so far and has carried on from his stunning form in Gujarat Titans' title-winning season in 2022. The veteran Indian cricketer has a total of 273 runs in 11 games with a strike rate of 137.19. He hopes to continue his good form and help Gujarat Titans secure a playoff spot in the remaining games of the season.
Overall, it was a thrilling encounter between Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants, with Saha's stunning knock being the highlight of the game. With the IPL season entering its final stages, the race for playoff spots is heating up, and every game will be crucial for the teams in contention.
