Follow UsOver the last four IPL seasons, Sai Sudharsan has gone from an emerging player to a reliable run bank, playing a crucial role in Gujarat Titans’ success. The left-hander has already posted some incredible numbers in the IPL, averaging 48.80 while still striking at 141.70.
The 2025 IPL has been no different, as the left-hander has already started strong, posting 186 runs in the three games, averaging a staggering 62. Chasing 170 against RCB on April 2 (Wednesday), Sudharsan played a wise knock, soaking the early pressure against a rampant Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar to score a 36-ball 49.
In the post-match press conference, the Tamil Nadu batter spoke about what made the surface quite tricky as compared to the usual high-scoring surfaces at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
“The wicket was not as easy as we can see, even RCB found it difficult. I felt they bowled really well in the powerplay and it was a tricky phase for us. The conversation was about taking the game deep, but it changed after 8-9 overs, and we maximised on that,” Sudharsan said.
“We focused more on wickets in hand, we are not a team which goes with a certain plan. We see the situation and conditions and make our plans accordingly,” he added.
Not only has the youngster become a crucial part of Gujarat’s success, but his stellar form across in domestic cricket has convinced the Indian selectors to groom him for the future. The left-hander even started strong for the national team, scoring 127 runs across three ODIs, including two fifties.
“It is my fourth year. I have been exposed to some difficult conditions and situations and a lot of fast and quick bowling in the nets with GT. The most important things that have helped me evolve are the game time I got here and the practise time I got here in GT nets. I got exposed to a lot of difficult conditions. Obviously, playing for India ‘A’ and the leagues outside India has helped me in my own game,” he said.
However, Sudharsan reckoned that if not for Sai Kishore’s wily 2/22, Gujarat would have struggled to contain the RCB batters to 169/8.
“I feel in this game, Sai Kishore bowled the most important spell, he was smart enough to use the right speed and right angles to Tim David and Liam Livingstone. He’s been doing well for us this season, and he has been bowling smart,” he spoke highly of his fellow state mate.
But having said that, the left-hander insisted that the franchise might have given away 10-15 runs extra towards the back end of the innings, which made the run chase slightly more difficult.
“As a bowling side, however, I felt like we had given 10-15 runs more than we should have. But having said that, I think 170 was a part score on this wicket.“