New Delhi, March 27: The IPL 2026 season kicks off on March 28, and Sai Sudharsan is ready to shine once again. Last season, he delivered an outstanding performance for the Gujarat Titans (GT), earning the Orange Cap as the tournament’s top scorer. Sudharsan attributes his success to the team’s culture.
In an exclusive interview, Sudharsan stated, “I believe the biggest lesson I learned from last season is the importance of establishing a new identity and embracing responsibility. If we want to win for our team or give our best, there is still much work to be done, and I am committed to doing that this year.”
Recalling his unbeaten 108-run innings against Delhi Capitals (DC), he said, “While opening for GT, Shubman and I always aimed to take the match to the end. Securing a win for the team was our priority. The turning point came in the match against DC, where we finished without losing a wicket. That moment taught us to trust ourselves more, and I believe it was our biggest turning point.”
On batting alongside Shubman Gill, Sudharsan remarked, “Honestly, that’s a great question. I’ve learned a lot from Shubman. Over the past four years, we’ve formed many partnerships and had extensive discussions on how to improve and analyze different situations. I feel I’ve worked on those aspects and am eager to continue doing so.”
Discussing the atmosphere at the GT camp, Sudharsan emphasized that the freedom to express oneself has been crucial for his development.
He explained, “I think this has shaped my career so far. As a young player entering the team, you have various doubts and questions. The environment here has helped me express myself openly rather than holding back. The focus was on what I enjoy doing, and I had the space and platform to pursue that. Mentally, this has given me a lot of freedom to express myself, allowing me to engage with others and feel more comfortable. Over time, I believe this has only improved.”
Sudharsan added, “I pay close attention to the fundamentals—simple things that can be repeated with every ball. Therefore, the most important aspects for me are timing and maintaining the correct position. These elements ultimately help me in both white-ball and red-ball cricket, particularly in white-ball matches where I can apply more power.”
The left-handed aggressive batsman noted, “I believe my decision-making ability has improved, and I’ve enhanced my options for scoring against bowlers. This is because I’m not just focusing on improving my power-hitting skills. Instead, I’m working on refining my timing to match the pace of the game and the needs on the field.”
Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden has been appointed as the batting coach for GT in IPL 2026. Regarding his interactions with Hayden, Sudharsan said, “We haven’t had extensive conversations, but those we’ve had have been quite interesting, and I want to make the most of them. 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. In total, he has played 40 IPL matches, amassing 1,793 runs with two centuries and twelve half-centuries.
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