New Delhi: Sai Sudharsan’s rise in the IPL has been as smooth as it gets. Since making his debut for Gujarat Titans four seasons ago, the 24-year-old has gradually established himself as one of the batting unit’s key pillars. In the past two seasons, he has been their leading run-scorer, and last year he went on to win the Orange Cap by finishing as the tournament’s top run-getter. Heading into his fifth season, the left-handed batter looked set to keep the momentum going, striking 73 off 44 balls in Gujarat Titans’ most recent outing against the Rajasthan Royals. That match, however, ended in disappointment for the Titans as they were beaten by six runs.
Despite the numbers and the accolades, Sudharsan insists there is no hidden T20 “magic” behind his success. Speaking on the eve of Gujarat’s clash against Delhi Capitals in the city on Wednesday, he said he doesn’t treat IPL as something fundamentally different from other cricket. “I don’t look at it as a different tournament. Whatever matches I play, the preparation, the effort and hard work I put in is similar. I’m just grateful and lucky enough to execute it here,” he explained.
He also highlighted the importance of mindset in a league where adaptability is constantly tested. “IPL is one of the biggest platforms anybody can get. I think the mindset should be to do our best, be as versatile as possible and equip yourself for any situation. Greater things will happen on their own,” Sudharsan added.
Sudharsan’s solid performances in the IPL last season earned him an opportunity in Test cricket, with a call-up to India’s squad for the tour of England. Yet, the transition to the longest format did not bring the same returns, as he returned with 302 runs from six matches, finishing with an average of 27.
Looking ahead, he acknowledged that switching between formats can be one of the toughest parts of modern cricket. “Shifting formats is the biggest challenge we face. Sometimes we get just two or three days and we are expected to deliver in each format. Apart from that, mentally, there is always the decision-making aspect that a player has to make during play. That is another big challenge,” he said.
With T20 cricket evolving quickly, Sudharsan believes the mental side of the game has become just as crucial as technique and execution. “I think it’s about fine-tuning and having a clear thought process and getting your mind sorted. I put in a lot of effort towards that during the off-season. I do yoga, a lot of meditation and visualisation to keep myself mentally fit,” he revealed.
