GT captain Hardik Pandya reveals his most trusted player ahead of IPL 2023 final

Hardik Pandya (Source: Twitter)

This is only the second edition of Gujarat Titans (GT) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), and they have already established themselves as one of the tournament's blockbuster teams. After dominating throughout the 2023 season, the Ahmedabad-based franchise entered the finals for the second time in a row and will meet five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Sunday, May 28.

Ahead of the summit clash, GT captain Hardik Pandya has revealed Rashid Khan as his most trusted player in the squad who he can turn to when the going gets tough. The name comes as no surprise to fans as the Afghanistan spin wizard was a phenomenon in GT's successful campaign last year, and we have seen his match-winning performances this year as well.

"I think we've spoken enough about him (Rashid Khan). He's been the man I can rely on when the team is in a tough situation," Hardik said in the post-match presentation.

His remarks come after Rashid kept the game flowing in GT's favour while defending a massive total of 234 against Mumbai Indians (MI) in Qualifier 2 on Friday at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The 24-year-old picked up two crucial wickets from Tilak Varma and Tim David at an economy of 8.8 on a batting-friendly surface.

He will be a superstar in international and franchise cricket: Hardik on Shubman Gill

Earlier, opener Shubman Gill played a stunning knock in the first innings, scoring 129 off just 60 balls - his third century in the last four matches. With 10 maximums and seven fours, the 23-year-old was on a song throughout his innings and ensured a total that MI's big hitters could not easily reach. Mohit Sharma's five-wicket haul was another plus for GT as they prepare for the grand showdown.

Hailing Gill's performance, Hardik said it was his "one of the finest" knock ever. "I think the clarity and confidence he is carrying is amazing. Today's innings was one of the finest, he never looked rushed. It felt like someone was throwing balls and he was hitting. He will be a superstar in international and franchise cricket," the skipper said.