Sai Sudharsan Scripts Rare IPL History, Becomes Only the 4th Batter to Score Fifty Against Every Opposition He Has Faced

Sai Sudharsan also became the first player to surpass 500 runs in IPL 2026, with Heinrich Klaasen reaching the milestone shortly after.

Sai Sudharsan Scripts Rare IPL History, Becomes Only the 4th Batter to Score Fifty Against Every Opposition He Has Faced

Sai Sudharsan has recorded half-centuries against all IPL teams he has faced. (via ESPN Cricinfo)

In Short
  • Sai Sudharsan scored 61 runs in Gujarat Titans' 82-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad.
  • He became the fourth batter in IPL history to score a fifty against every opponent he has faced.
  • Sudharsan has achieved over 500 runs in three consecutive IPL seasons, joining Chris Gayle in this milestone.

With openers like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma garnering more attention, Sai Sudharsan‘s talent has often gone unnoticed. The 24-year-old recently cemented his place in the record books during the Gujarat Titans’ 82-run win against the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

GT moved a step closer to securing a place in the play-offs after defeating SRH at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Put to bat first, the home side could only post 168/5, guided by Sai Sudharsan’s 61 off 44 balls, and Washington Sundar’s 50 off 33.

While the visitors were poised to chase the target with ease, the Titans’ pace bowling unit of Jason Holder (3/20), Kagiso Rabada (3/28), Prasidh Krishna (2/23), and Mohammed Siraj (1/11) bowled them out for their lowest-ever IPL total of 86 runs. 

Despite the GT bowlers earning the credit for the win, Sai Sudharsan’s innings was crucial as he anchored the batting after the early loss of Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler. He hit five fours and two sixes, forging key partnerships with Nishant Sindhu and Sundar. He briefly moved to the top of the IPL 2026 Orange Cap standings during the game, having amassed 501 runs in 12 matches at an average of 41.75, including five half-centuries and a century. 

With his sixth 50+ score of the campaign, the 24-year-old also became only the fourth batter in IPL history to score a fifty against every opponent he has faced. Sai Sudharsan has half-centuries against CSK, DC, KKR, LSG, MI, PBKS, RR, RCB, and SRH. The only three other players to reach this milestone before him were his GT teammate Shubman Gill, RCB skipper Rajat Patidar, and CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad. 

Sudharsan’s 61-run innings ensured he crossed the 500-run mark for the third consecutive IPL season, adding his name to a rare list of batters in IPL history who have achieved the feat in at least three straight seasons. Last season’s Orange Cap winner, the young left-hander, also became only the second batter after Chris Gayle to score 500+ runs in three straight seasons while maintaining a strike-rate of over 140.

The Tamil Nadu batter has established himself as one of the IPL’s most consistent batters over the last few seasons, having scored 2,294 runs. His career total includes three centuries and 17 fifties, with an impressive average of 47.79 and a strike rate of 147.81.

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A surprising take: Former Indian cricketer weighs in on Sai Sudharsan’s ‘strike rate’ debate

While Gujarat Titans’ opener Sai Sudharsan completed another 500+ run season in the IPL, his relatively lower career strike-rate of around 145 has remained a subject of debate. The criticism stems from the consideration of how modern T20 games have evolved. 

Mohammad Kaif on Sai Sudharsan
Mohammad Kaif praised the GT management for not changing Sai Sudharsan’s playing nature. (via News 18)

Sudharsan’s scoring rate is frequently compared to that of his contemporaries, like Abhishek Sharma (170.84), or Priyansh Arya (196.40). At a time when 200+ strike-rates have become the standard for openers, Sudharsan’s measured approach is often labeled by fans and experts as ‘orthodox’, despite his ability to survive and bat long on ‘tacky’ and difficult surfaces in grounds across the country. 

However, former India all-rounder Mohammad Kaif had a contrasting perspective on the 24-year-old’s scoring rate. Kaif showered praise on the Titans’ team management for allowing Sudharsan to stick to his natural game.

He argued that if Sudharsan were with any other franchise, he would likely be forced to adjust and increase his scoring rate, a change that Kaif felt would be harmful to his performance. He said on his YouTube channel:

If Sai Sudharsan had played for another team, then his coach and captain would’ve gone after him [ruined his natural game]. They would’ve asked him to increase the strike rate from 140 and work on it… It’s a Test match flavor.

Sai Sudharsan is widely considered India’s potential star for the longer formats, specifically Tests and ODIs. Although he debuted against England last summer, his red-ball performance has been underwhelming, with only 302 runs scored in 11 innings at a low average of 27.45.

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