Sai Sudharsan had golden chance to be the standout player for Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2026 final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). But that wasn’t the case as he was sent packing by Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the 4th over of the marquee clash. Despite amassing over 700 runs for the 2nd consecutive time in the IPL, the Tamil Nadu batter failed to make an impact in the IPL 2026 final. His cheap dismissal, which came shortly after captain Shubman Gill’s, could prove to be quite costly for GT in the vital clash.
Sai Sudharsan flops when it matters the most
Sudharsan managed to score just 12 runs in the IPL 2026 final between GT and RCB, before he was caught out by Jitesh Sharma while attempting a pull shot off the fourth delivery of the 4th over. Prior to this game, the GT opener was dismissed via a hit-wicket consecutively in two matches, making him the first player in the history of the IPL to be dismissed via that means for the maximum number of times. It is pertinent to point out that Sudharsan, along with Gill, has scored over 50% of the total runs scored by GT in IPL 2026. Therefore, the early departure of the duo puts GT on the back foot in the IPL 2026 final.
Sai Sudharsan has witnessed a meteoric rise over the last three years. After scoring 527 runs in IPL 2024, the GT opener went on to become the Orange Cap winner in IPL 2025, having amassed 759 runs from 15 matches in that season, having scored one hundred and six fifties, at an average of 54.21. In IPL 2026, he scored 722 runs, with 8 fifties and one hundred, averaging over 45.
Sudharsan started off his IPL 2026 campaign on a poor note, registering a 13-run knock in GT’s opener against PBKS. While he went on to score 3 fifty-plus scores, including a hundred in the next 7 games, he largely failed to convert starts to big knocks. He recovered well towards the latter half of the contest, having registered five consecutive 50-plus scores in the last 8 games that GT played.
| Runs | SR | Opposition |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | 118.18 | Punjab Kings |
| 73 | 165.90 | RR |
| 12 | 171.42 | DC |
| 15 | 107.14 | LSG |
| 22 | 137.50 | KKR |
| 0 | 0.00 | MI |
| 100 | 172.41 | RCB |
| 87 | 189.13 | CSK |
| 6 | 120.00 | RCB |
| 57 | 139.02 | Punjab Kings |
| 55 | 152.77 | RR |
| 61 | 138.63 | SRH |
| 53* | 189.28 | KKR |
| 84 | 158.49 | CSK |
| 14 | 155.55 | RCB |
| 58 | 181.25 | RR |
| 12 | 100.00 | RCB |
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