On Sunday, the 2 will face off within the IPL 2023 ultimate, the place Gujarat Titans will look to defend the title they gained of their debut season final yr in opposition to four-time champions Chennai Super Kings.
Titans, beneath the steering of Pandya, sailed into their second successive IPL ultimate after blowing away five-time champions Mumbai Indians by 62 runs in Qualifier 2 to arrange a summit conflict with four-time winners Chennai Tremendous Kings.
“He (Hardik) has been very open about his admiration and affection for MSD, identical to all those that have adopted MSD’s profession. After they exit to the toss, they are going to be very pleasant and smiling all that,” Gavaskar instructed Star Sports activities. “However in terms of the match, it will likely be a very totally different ambiance. It is an excellent alternative for Hardik Pandya to point out how rapidly he has discovered.”
Handed the captaincy in GT’s inaugural season, Pandya guided the staff to a maiden IPL title.
“When he was captaining for the primary time final yr, no person knew what to anticipate as a result of he has been one of the thrilling and excitable cricketer as effectively,” Gavaskar stated.
“The calmness that he brings to the staff is harking back to MSD. This can be a completely satisfied staff, which is precisely what we see with CSK as effectively. Hardik has to take quite a lot of credit score for that.”
Gavaskar additionally attributed the success of GT to teach Ashish Nehra.
“I might not wish to miss Ashish Nehra. He’s one individual, when he’s within the change room or the comm (commentary) field, you can not however be laughing. He makes life look really easy and he has acquired one of many sharpest cricketing brains,” the 73-year-old.
Gujarat had misplaced to CSK in Qualifier 1. They’ll now have one other go at Dhoni’s military within the ultimate on Sunday and Gavaskar stated it will likely be a tricky battle for the Chennai staff.
“They (GT) have at all times been a top-class staff. Take a look at the way in which they’ve topped the desk. They completed with 20 factors, 3 greater than Chennai Tremendous Kings. It tells you the way Gujarat Titans dominated within the league levels. It shouldn’t be a shock that they reached the ultimate. They’ve performed champions cricket.
“And that is why there are within the ultimate. CSK know that they’ve an actual, actual battle on their palms.”
(With company inputs)