Sai Sudharsan’s meteoric rise in T20 cricket continued in dramatic fashion as he became the quickest batter ever to reach the 3,000-run mark in the format during Gujarat Titans’ contest against Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday.
How Sudharsan made history
- Fastest to 3,000 T20 runs: Sai Sudharsan — 78 innings
- Previous record: Shaun Marsh — 85 innings
- Other notable names in the early bracket: D’Arcy Short — 86 innings, Devon Conway — 86 innings, Chris Gayle — 87 innings
The stylish left-hander reached the landmark in just 78 innings, eclipsing Shaun Marsh’s earlier benchmark of 85. The achievement also pushed Sudharsan further into an elite company list that includes D’Arcy Short, Devon Conway and Chris Gayle.
Despite Gujarat Titans ultimately losing by 29 runs, Sudharsan once again looked effortless in the chase. After an injury scare, he had to retire hurt briefly, but returned later and remained unbeaten on 53 off 28 deliveries, helping keep the chase alive.
Sudharsan’s run-flow and an IPL season high
- Most consecutive 50-plus scores for GT: 4* — Sai Sudharsan (2026)
- Other GT streaks listed: 3 — Hardik Pandya (2022), 3 — Sai Sudharsan (2024-25), 3 — Shubman Gill (2025), 3 — Shubman Gill (2026)
The half-century also extended a remarkable streak for the opener. Sai has now recorded four straight 50-plus scores for Gujarat Titans, making him the first player in the franchise’s history to reach that mark. Gujarat’s earlier best had been three consecutive scores of 50 or more, achieved by Hardik Pandya in 2022 and later matched by Sai during 2024-25, and by Shubman Gill in 2025 and 2026.
Sudharsan has also taken control of the tournament’s batting race in IPL 2026. He is currently the leading run-scorer for Gujarat Titans and holds the Orange Cap with 554 runs from 13 matches. His return includes an average of 46.17 and a strike rate of 157.83.
Eden Gardens: GT’s winning run ends
Sudharsan’s latest milestone arrived during a high-scoring encounter at Eden Gardens, where Gujarat’s five-match winning streak finally came to an end.
- Kolkata Knight Riders set the tone: After explosive batting at the top, KKR posted 247/2, driven by Finn Allen and Angkrish Raghuvanshi.
- Allen’s demolition: Finn Allen struck 93 off 35 balls, smashing 10 sixes.
- Raghuvanshi’s finishing touch: Angkrish Raghuvanshi remained not out on 82, keeping KKR on track and maintaining pressure on the Titans.
- GT chase begins with a target: Gujarat Titans chased a demanding total of 248.
- Half-centuries keep GT in it: The chase saw important contributions, with Sudharsan, Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler all producing fifties.
- Chase ends short: Gujarat finished on 218/4, falling 29 runs short of the target.
Fielding lapses proved especially costly for Gujarat as they dropped four catches during KKR’s innings. The misses included chances involving Finn Allen, Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Cameron Green—opportunities that ultimately swung momentum back toward the chasing side’s opponents.
Those missed moments turned out to be decisive, and KKR’s win kept their playoff hopes firmly alive.
