As a young boy growing up in Chennai, Sai Sudharsan idolised Chennai Super Kings (CSK), even standing on the roadside just to catch a fleeting glimpse of the team bus passing by his school. Remarkably, that deep emotional connection with his hometown franchise has transformed into a unique penchant for scoring heavily against them on the cricket field.
Sai Sudharsan on affinity towards CSK
Since joining the Gujarat Titans at the franchise's inception in 2022, the 24-year-old left-hander has steadily evolved into one of the most dependable batters in the Indian Premier League. His breakthrough came prominently during the 2023 edition, where he amassed an impressive 362 runs in just eight games, maintaining a stellar average of 51.71 and a striking rate of 141.40.
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Sudharsan's knack for rising to the occasion against his childhood heroes was perfectly exemplified in the 2023 IPL final, where he smashed a fluent 96 off just 47 balls against CSK—an innings that firmly established his temperament and big-stage capability. He carried this dominant form into the 2024 season in Ahmedabad, where he notched his maiden IPL century, once again punishing the Chennai bowlers.
"It wasn't a conscious decision; I think it was the grace of God, and it came at the right time. But it's always special to spend time in the middle, especially when I play against CSK because, whatever may be said and done, there's a deep emotional connection with CSK for me," Sudharsan said while speaking on JioStar.
"I grew up watching CSK play. We used to stand on the road just to watch the team bus pass by our school. Those are fantastic memories. I'm grateful to God that I've been able to deliver some memorable performances against CSK," he added.
Sai Sudharsan's red-hot form in IPL 2026 continues
Sudharsan scaled even greater heights during the 2025 IPL season, delivering a blockbuster performance that earned him the prestigious Orange Cap. Throughout that dominant campaign, the left-hander amassed a staggering 759 runs, boasting an exceptional average of 54.21 and a blistering strike rate of 156.17. He has seamlessly carried that elite form into the current 2026 season, continuing to be a run-machine for his franchise. From 13 matches so far, Sudharsan has already racked up 554 runs at an impressive average of 46.17 and an elevated strike rate of 157.83, anchored by one century and six half-centuries.
"It's actually very interesting. I don't look at the past anymore, to be honest, because it's already gone. What matters is the present...whatever I've done yesterday doesn't serve a purpose for me today. I have to start the grind again from today. And when tomorrow comes, I'll start fresh again. So, I don't worry about or dwell on the last season. I try to take the learnings from it and remain as fresh as possible for the coming season or the coming day," Sudharsan further stated.