Sai Sudharsan’s Masterclass Powers Gujarat Titans to 205/3 Against RCB

Bengaluru, April 2026 : A sublime century from Sai Sudharsan guided the Gujarat Titans to a formidable total of 205/3 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Match 34 of the Indian Premier League 2026 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday.

Sudharsan’s 100 off 58 balls was the backbone of the innings, showcasing composure, skill, and calculated aggression. However, his start was anything but comfortable. Facing early movement from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, he edged one past short third for a boundary, while Josh Hazlewood tested him relentlessly with probing lines and lengths, beating his outside edge multiple times and even striking him on the pads.

Despite the early pressure, Sudharsan gradually found his rhythm as the ball stopped swinging. He began to time the ball with greater assurance, threading boundaries through the off-side and rotating strike intelligently. The turning point came in the fifth over when he launched his first six, shifting gears with a series of attacking strokes. A scoop, a cut over cover-point, and a boundary behind point helped him surge ahead, racing to 41 off 27 deliveries, while his opening partner Shubman Gill had barely faced a handful of balls.

Gujarat Titans ended the Power-play strongly at 57 without loss, with Sudharsan firmly in control. He continued to dominate the scoring, dispatching Rasikh Salam for consecutive boundaries and maintaining a brisk scoring rate above ten runs per over. Gill played a supporting role, chipping in with occasional boundaries but largely rotating the strike.

Sudharsan brought up his half-century in style, reaching the milestone in just 33 balls with an audacious scoop for six off Romario Shepherd. He followed it with a crisp boundary, ensuring the pressure remained on the bowlers. The innings soon turned into a display of fearless strokeplay, highlighted by an uppercut over deep third and a slog-sweep for another six against Krunal Pandya.

During this phase, Sudharsan also achieved a major personal milestone, becoming the fastest player to reach 2,000 IPL runs in just 47 innings, surpassing legends like Chris Gayle and outpacing names such as Shaun Marsh, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and KL Rahul.

In the middle overs, Sudharsan maintained the tempo, striking Suyash Sharma for a towering six and even smashing a straight drive that struck the bowler, briefly halting play. However, Suyash struck back by dismissing Gill with a well-disguised googly, caught at long-on.

Jos Buttler, playing his 500th T20 match, added a quick burst of energy with 17 off just nine balls, including a boundary and a six. Meanwhile, Sudharsan continued his fluent knock before finally reaching a well-deserved century.

His innings eventually came to an end when Hazlewood induced a mistimed pull, resulting in a return catch. Sudharsan’s departure at 100 off 58 slightly slowed Gujarat’s late surge, but the foundation he laid ensured a strong total.

The closing overs witnessed some drama. Tight spells from Suyash and Bhuvneshwar restricted the run flow, with Buttler falling while attempting an inventive shot. Rasikh Salam also suffered cramps and had to leave the field, forcing Rajat Patidar to reshuffle his bowling plans.

In the final over, Jason Holder provided the finishing flourish, smashing two sixes and a boundary to push the total past the 200-run mark.

For RCB, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hazlewood, and Suyash Sharma picked up one wicket each, but their efforts were overshadowed by Sudharsan’s brilliance.

Brief Scores:
Gujarat Titans 205/3 in 20 overs (Sai Sudharsan 100, Shubman Gill 32) vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru.