A franchise fast making a name for themselves in the IPL circuit, against a team with an almost legendary hold on the trophy. Today evening’s Indian Premier League matchup between Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings will bring to the crease a replay of the 2023 Indian Super League Final. As we gear up for the festivities, Fancode’s “The Super Over” caught up with Indian cricket legend and winner of the ICC T20 & Cricket World Cup, S.Sreesanth for his thoughts about the match-up!
Bringing together top cricketers and analysts to dissect every match day, Fancode’s The Super Over caters to a diverse fandom that the IPL commands. Having won three out of the last five encounters, Gujarat will look to carry on their form in this matchup and redeem themselves after last year’s final loss against Gujarat.
Speaking about the existing dynamics within the Gujarat Titans team with the absence of Hardik Pandya, S. Sreesanth on FanCode’s The Super Over, highlighted how a new captain such as Shubham Gill alongside the experience of Ashish Nehra & Gary Kirsten will allow the Gujarat Titans to flourish. Aptly highlighting the significance of having senior players step up, he also spoke about how the bowlers need to be given freedom in execution and responsibility to do their task saying, “There is no Hardik in Gujarat to tell the bowlers what to bowl,” Sreesanth said, referring to last year’s final and Pandya’s discussion with Mohit Sharma before the final delivery.
“Sometimes you need to give the bowler that freedom to bowl. This time the captain is Gill, and I’m sure Ashish bhai (Ashish Nehra) will say let them bowl. Bowlers will also take responsibility with a young captain and sometimes, this is the advantage of having a young captain,” Sreesanth said.
Speaking of the Chennai Super Kings, Sreesanth openly spoke about his admiration for the cricketing great in M.S Dhoni, saying “You don’t need anyone else in the team, you just need Mahi.”
Delving into his personal experiences with the legendary cricketer and recollecting their days at the Indian Airlines team, Sreesanth painted a portrait of Dhoni as a natural leader and a magnet for players seeking guidance. He also emphasized Dhoni’s unique ability to provide simple yet profound solutions to complex situations, encapsulated in his signature one-liners.
Citing instances where Dhoni’s influence has had a transformative effect on players’ careers, He spoke about Ajinkya Rahane’s resurgence and Shivam Dubey’s changed mindset as instances of Dhoni’s leadership and management.