IPL 2023: Hardik Pandya Rues GT's Basic Errors After Defeat

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) : Gujarat Titans (GT) skipper Hardik Pandya believes basic errors and a few ‘soft balls’ cost GT the Qualifier 1 match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023.

CSK cruised into the final of IPL 2023 as they beat GT by 15 runs in Qualifier 1 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. After opting to bowl first, Gujarat restricted Super Kings to 172/7. Ruturaj Gaikwad starred with the bat as he hit a flamboyant 60(44) to lay the platform. Ambati Rayudu (17 off 9) and Ravindra Jadeja (22 off 16) then played brisk knocks to provide a crucial late flourish and take CSK to a competitive 172/7.

Titans struggled throughout the chase and were eventually bundled out for 157.

‘I think we were quite spot on [with the ball], but we made basic errors. And I think that cost us the game. After the first innings, the kind of wicket and at the same point of time the kind of bowlers we had, I felt we exactly went 15 runs above the score where we should have stopped them,’ Hardik said in a post-match presentation.

‘A lot of things we did right. I think it’s just that we bowled a couple of soft balls in between. We were executing quite some plans and all of a sudden in between we gave some runs … where we must have given soft balls,’ he added.

‘No, no, I don’t think so. You know regrets are not good in life. We expected dew might come. It did not come but still I think we gave 15 runs extra and as a batting unit we lost wickets and we were always chasing the game,’ Hardik said when asked if he regretted his decision at the toss.

Talking about their performance in all departments, Pandya said, ‘So overall I think in both departments we did not do the right things and I mean that’s the reason I’m talking to you [as the losing captain] right now.’