CSK vs GT: Hardik Pandya Reflects on Team’s Loss in Qualifier 1

The Chepauk stadium in Chennai hosted the CSK vs GT first qualifiers. Winning the toss, Hardik Pandya and his team invited the 4-time champions to bat first. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, Chennai Super Kings finished at 172 in 20 overs. Gujarat’s batting line-up including captain Hardik Pandya failed to step up on the occasion as the defending champions lost the match by just 15 runs.

The loss in the CSK vs GT match will not end the journey for Hardik Pandya and his team. As Gujarat Titans finished their group stage at the top of the table, they will receive one more chance to make it to the finals. After the MI vs LSG eliminator, the winner of this match will face Gujarat in the qualifier 2. GT captain Hardik Pandya claimed following the match that his team lost due to simple mistakes and added that they also gave up 15 extra runs.

“I felt we conceded 15 extra runs,” says Hardik Pandya after CSK vs GT loss

Showing faith in his team, he said that they wouldn’t dwell on the defeat right now. He further mentioned that the team should instead focus on regrouping for the upcoming match. “I think we were quite spot-on (with the ball), but we made basic errors and that costed us the game. The kind of bowlers we had, I felt we conceded 15 extra runs. A lot of things we did right. We bowled a couple of soft balls in between. That’s the beauty about him (Dhoni), with his mind and the way he uses the bowlers, he’ll make sure that you’ll feel like he’s adding 10 runs. We kept losing wickets, he kept changing the bowlers, credit to him. Happy for him, would be nice to meet him on Sunday,” Hardik Pandya said.

Hardik Pandya this year has failed to create an impact with his individual performance. Nonetheless, his leadership ability is something that has received praise from people. Qualifier 2 will take place at Ahmedabad which will provide Hardik Pandya and his team with additional benefits. Well-versed with the home conditions and with the kind of performance Shubman Gill has on the p ground, Gujarat Titans will definitely be favorites to win this one.