Sai Sudharsan says he is not treating his slow start in IPL 2026 as a lean patch, insisting it is only part of the game’s constant adjustment. The Gujarat Titans opener said he sees every quiet spell as a chance to learn, move forward and get better rather than as a phase that defines him.
“I don’t look at it as a lean patch or a phase where I’m not scoring runs,” Sudharsan said on a JioHotstar special show. “It’s a learning experience for me to move forward, improve, and get better.” He added that in a tournament as demanding as the IPL, it is vital not to carry the residue of previous innings into the next one.
That point went beyond routine batting advice. Sudharsan said memories of earlier failures or successes can “eat you up” if they stay in the mind for too long, and that T20 cricket changes fast enough to punish anyone who stops adapting. “It’s also important to understand how the game is evolving because T20 cricket changes very quickly,” he said. “As batters, we have to be versatile enough to adjust to what the team or the situation demands.”
For Gujarat, that flexibility runs through his opening partnership with Shubman Gill. Sudharsan said the pair complement each other well, with Gill’s game awareness and tactical strength giving him freedom at the other end. “Shubman is such a mastermind,” he said. “He understands the game so well and is tactically very strong.” He added that their shared understanding lets them “take turns accordingly” and work with a natural rhythm.
The comments land after a season in which Sudharsan was among the standout batters in IPL 2025, when he won the Orange Cap. He has tried not to dwell on that success either. “I don’t look at the past anymore, to be honest, because it’s already gone,” he said. “What matters is the present.” His own motto, he said, is simple: “Yesterday’s home runs won’t win today’s games.”
That attitude has also shaped how he views milestones. Sudharsan said breaking Chris Gayle’s record for the most runs in 50 IPL innings was meaningful because it showed he is moving in the right direction. “When a record is broken, it’s obviously a great feeling and a significant milestone to achieve because it validates that we are moving in the right direction,” he said, adding that such achievements help him trust himself and keep improving.
His attachment to the game is also personal. Sudharsan said his maiden IPL century came against CSK in 2024 and called it a special moment because of his deep emotional connection with the franchise. He said he grew up watching CSK play and recalled standing on the road with others just to see the team bus pass by their school. “Those are fantastic memories,” he said. “I’m grateful to God that I’ve been able to deliver some memorable performances against CSK.”
For Sudharsan, the message is clear: form is temporary, adaptation is essential and reputation only matters if it helps the next innings. In IPL 2026, the opener is asking to be judged less by what he has already done and more by how quickly he can reset when the game changes again.
