New Delhi, March 27: The IPL 2026 is set to kick off on March 28, and Sai Sudharsan, who had an impressive performance for the Gujarat Titans (GT) last season, is eager to build on his success. He won the Orange Cap as the tournament’s top scorer and attributes his achievements to the team’s culture.
In a special interview, Sudharsan stated, “I believe the biggest lesson I learned from last season is the need to create a new identity and take on that responsibility. If we want to win for our team or give our best, there is still a lot of work to be done, and that work will be done well this year.”
Recalling his unbeaten 108-run innings against the Delhi Capitals (DC), he said, “While opening for GT, Shubman and I always thought about taking the match to the end and securing a win for the team. I think the biggest turning point came in the match against DC. We finished the match without losing a wicket, which taught us to trust ourselves more. That was our biggest turning point.”
On batting alongside Shubman Gill, Sudharsan remarked, “Honestly, that’s a great question. I have learned a lot from Shubman. Over the past four years, we have formed many partnerships and had discussions on how we can improve and view different situations. I believe I have worked on those aspects and am eager to continue doing so.”
Discussing the atmosphere in the GT camp, Sudharsan emphasized that the freedom to express oneself has been crucial for his development. He said, “I think this has shaped my career so far. As a young player entering a team, you have many doubts and questions. The environment here has helped me express myself openly instead of holding back. The focus was on what I enjoy doing, and I had both the space and platform for that. Mentally, this has given me a lot of freedom to express myself, allowing me to communicate with others and feel more comfortable.”
Sudharsan added, “I pay a lot of attention to the basics—very simple things that can be repeated with every ball. Therefore, the most important aspects for me are correct timing and maintaining the right position. These ultimately help me in both white-ball and red-ball cricket, especially in white-ball matches where I can exert more power while batting.”
The left-handed aggressive batsman noted, “I believe my decision-making ability has improved, and I have also enhanced my options for scoring against bowlers. This is because I am not just focusing on improving my power-hitting skills. Instead, I am trying to enhance my timing to match the pace of the game and the needs on the field at any given moment.”
Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden has been appointed as the batting coach for GT in IPL 2026. On their discussions, Sudharsan mentioned, “We haven’t had much conversation, but whatever little we have had has been quite interesting, and I would like to take advantage of it. He is one of Australia’s great players, so I would also like to seek his advice for Test matches.”
Last season, Sudharsan scored 759 runs in 15 matches, including one century and six half-centuries. Overall, he has amassed 1,793 runs in 40 IPL matches, with two centuries and twelve half-centuries.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
