He raises his bat to load his shot only when the bowler reaches the popping crease, adjusting the extent of his backswing based on his reading of length and shot choice.<\/p>\n
It is a batting style from a bygone era, one that makes the process seem tougher than it should be. For Sai Sudharsan, it is a habit born of childhood frailty, one he has considered changing but ultimately retained.<\/p>\n
\u201cI started playing by keeping my bat down when I was young,\u201d explains Sai Sudharsan in an interview with Sportstar<\/i>.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe main reason at the time was that I was not very strong. My coaches would say, \u2018You\u2019re not so strong. So, don\u2019t lift your bat. Otherwise, you\u2019ll get tired soon. Just keep your bat down.\u2019 That\u2019s how I started.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it is helping me. Yes, I had some temptations in between to change it. But I think I had more trust in this. The way I batted, the set-up I have, I trusted this more,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The 24-year-old\u2019s faith in his natural style has brought rich rewards, most notably the Orange Cap in IPL 2025, when he accumulated 759 runs at an impressive strike rate of 156.17 for Gujarat Titans.<\/p>\n
That massive haul was the punctuation mark on an upward trajectory that has defined his IPL career: 145 runs in 2022, 362 in 2023, and 527 in 2024.<\/p>\n
At the heart of his progression has been a willingness to adapt by adding new shots to his repertoire, particularly behind square. The southpaw has integrated a variety of ramps and scoops into his strokeplay as he has expanded his run-scoring methods.<\/p>\n
This evolution has been the result of conscious planning and focused off-season training, driven by a desire to add new tools without unsettling his batting foundation.<\/p>\n
\u201cI definitely do it [prepare for such shots] beforehand. The way the sport is going, we need multiple options against the bowler. Without disturbing my strengths, how can I still improve my range? That is the thought process. It takes time to develop a new shot, but I think I\u2019ve done a very good job.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Sai Sudharsan has impressed individually, it is his opening partnership with skipper Shubman Gill that has underpinned Gujarat Titans\u2019 team plan.<\/p>\n
Over the last two seasons, the pair has aggregated a league-leading 1453 runs at an average of 63.17. With an emphasis on accumulation and risk minimisation, the two are expected to provide a stable base for the middle order to capitalise on.<\/p>\n
Sai Sudharsan believes this is a perfect alignment of team strategy and individual strengths.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it was in unison, where our strengths aligned with what the team required. The team requirement was also very similar. We focus more on taking the game deeper and winning it from there,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
In addition to his appetite for runs, the Tamil Nadu batter is known for his quirky preparation routines. During the England Test series in 2025, he was spotted jotting in his journal before walking out to bat and engaging in visualisation exercises. This is in addition to his habit of not batting on the eve of a game and assessing the pitch by walking on it barefoot.<\/p>\n
It would be easy to label these as superstitions and dismiss them. But in a high-pressure environment like competitive sport, such forms of pattern-building are essential for performance, he believes.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost sportsmen do it. It\u2019s a feel-good thing. Whatever you do, even practice, it\u2019s about making you feel good and confident. So, whatever helps us feel that way is good. There is a reason for me to do these things \u2014 to be in a good headspace and be expressive and natural when I step onto the ground.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sai Sudharsan also admits that he has toned down his routines, sticking only to pragmatic ones.<\/p>\n
\u201cI used to have a lot of superstitions, but over time I have reduced them and made everything more practical and logical. Sometimes I would eat the same food \u2014 it could be ice cream or biryani. If the game went well, I would repeat it for 14 games. I have done that before, but now I have taken it out of my system. It\u2019s just an example,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
The left-hander was last in action in national colours against South Africa in a home Test series, where India suffered a 2-0 defeat.<\/p>\n
Sai Sudharsan featured only in the second Test in Guwahati and managed just 29 runs across both innings. It was a failure that prompted serious introspection.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had so much anger towards myself that I was not able to execute when the team needed it. But once the series finished, I understood that I need to work more, be better prepared, and be ready when the situation comes again. That was the biggest thing on my mind.\u201d<\/p>\n
Published on Apr 08, 2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n