This article is about Sai Sudharsan, a left-handed top-order batter from Tamil Nadu, tracing his rise from TNPL standout to IPL Orange Cap winner and India’s emerging all-format international cricketer.
Sai Sudharsan Player Bio
- Full Name: Bhardwaj Sai Sudharsan
- Born: 15 October 2001, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Age: 24
- Batting Style: Left-handed
- Role: Top-order batter
- Teams: India, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat Titans
Sai Sudharsan Early Life, Playing Style & Career Strengths
Early Life & Sporting Background
Sai Sudharsan was born in Chennai into a high-performance sporting family. His father, R. Bharadwaj, represented India as a sprinter at the South Asian Games, while his mother, Usha Bharadwaj, was a state-level volleyball player.
Growing up in Mylapore, he was exposed to competitive sport from an early age. This environment helped instill discipline, fitness awareness, and mental toughness.
Sudharsan progressed through Tamil Nadu’s age-group system and local league cricket, gaining attention for his sound technique, composure, and consistency rather than explosive power-hitting.
Playing Style, Strengths & Weaknesses
Sai Sudharsan is a technically sound left-handed batter who relies on timing, balance, and placement rather than brute force. He is particularly strong square of the wicket, plays high-elbowed drives with control, and is highly effective against spin bowling.
Early in his career, he batted primarily at No. 3, anchoring innings and building partnerships. As his game matured, he successfully transitioned into a top-order and opening role in white-ball cricket.
Strengths
- Calm temperament under pressure
- Excellent player of spin
- Converts starts into big scores
- Adaptable across batting positions (No. 3 to opener)
- Proven performer in big and knockout matches
Weaknesses
- Power-hitting against express pace still developing
- Limited bowling contribution
Key Career Records & Achievements
- Orange Cap winner – IPL 2025
- Youngest player to score 700 runs in an IPL season
- Fastest Indian to 1,000 IPL runs
- Part of a world-record 416-run List A partnership
- Ranji Trophy double century (213)
- Most expensive player at the TNPL 2023 auction
Sai Sudharsan Career Overview: Domestic, IPL & International
Domestic Career in Brief
Sai Sudharsan’s domestic breakthrough came through white-ball cricket for Tamil Nadu.
- T20 debut: Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (2021)
- List A debut: Vijay Hazare Trophy (2021)
- Quickly gained attention for his consistency at the top of the order
The 2021-22 Vijay Hazare Trophy turned him into a national talking point.
- Finished among the leading run-scorers
- Part of a record-breaking 416-run opening partnership with Narayan Jagadeesan
- Highest partnership in List A cricket history
His performances earned him India A selection.
- Impressed in the Emerging Teams Asia Cup
- Scored a match-winning century vs Pakistan A
In red-ball cricket, Sudharsan continued his rise.
- Season: 2024-25 Ranji Trophy
- Maiden double century: 213
TNPL Breakthrough & Early Recognition
Sai Sudharsan first caught wider attention in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL), where he emerged as one of the competition’s most reliable batters.
His consistent performances made him the most expensive player at the 2023 TNPL auction, where he was bought for ₹21.60 lakh – a figure higher than his IPL salary at the time.
IPL Career in Brief (Gujarat Titans)
Sai Sudharsan was picked by Gujarat Titans at the IPL 2022 mega auction for his base price of ₹20 lakh. He made his IPL debut on 8 April 2022 vs Punjab Kings, scoring a composed 35.
Initially used lower down the order, Sudharsan had limited chances but impressed with his technique and composure. By IPL 2023, he was promoted up the order, where his game flourished.
IPL 2023
- Played 8 matches
- Finished among GT’s leading run-scorers
- Average: 51.71
His defining IPL moment came in the IPL 2023 final, where he smashed 96 off 47 balls against Chennai Super Kings, nearly winning the title for Gujarat Titans. By IPL 2024 and 2025, Sudharsan had established himself as a core player for Gujarat Titans.
IPL 2024 & 2025
- Progressed from a squad option to a franchise mainstay
- Regular top-order presence
- Among the most consistent run-scorers
Season-Wise IPL Performance
- IPL 2022: 5 matches, Avg 36.25
- IPL 2023: 362 runs, Avg 51.71
- Match-defining 96 vs CSK (Final)
- IPL 2024: 527 runs, Avg ~48
- Maiden IPL century: 103 vs CSK
- Fastest Indian to 1,000 IPL runs
- IPL 2025: 759 runs in 15 matches
- Orange Cap winner
- Youngest player to cross 700 runs in a season
International Career & Major Milestones
Sai Sudharsan made his ODI debut against South Africa in December 2023, scoring back-to-back half-centuries in the series and making an immediate impact as a top-order batter.
He earned his T20I debut against Zimbabwe in July 2024, marking his entry into international T20 cricket. In June 2025, Sudharsan made his Test debut against England at Headingley.
Later in October 2025, he scored his maiden Test century (126) against the West Indies, confirming his transition into a full-fledged three-format international batter.
Current Status (As of January 2026)
Sai Sudharsan sustained a rib fracture during the Vijay Hazare Trophy in January 2026. He is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence and is expected to be fit in time for IPL 2026.
Sai Sudharsan Overall Stats
Sai Sudharsan: Batting & Fielding Summary
| Category | Tests | ODIs | T20Is | FC | List A | T20s |
| Mat | 6 | 3 | 1 | 39 | 30 | 66 |
| Inns | 11 | 3 | — | 67 | 29 | 65 |
| NO | 0 | 1 | — | 0 | 4 | 8 |
| Runs | 302 | 127 | — | 2591 | 1495 | 2463 |
| HS | 87 | 62 | — | 213 | 154 | 108* |
| Ave | 27.45 | 63.50 | — | 38.67 | 59.80 | 43.21 |
| BF | 780 | 142 | — | 4992 | 1561 | 1771 |
| SR | 38.71 | 89.43 | — | 51.90 | 95.77 | 139.07 |
| 100s | 0 | 0 | — | 8 | 6 | 3 |
| 50s | 2 | 2 | — | 9 | 7 | 15 |
| 4s | 38 | 17 | — | 281 | 167 | 248 |
| 6s | 0 | 1 | — | 12 | 17 | 60 |
| Ct | 4 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 9 | 18 |
| St | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sai Sudharsan: Bowling Summary
| Category | Tests | ODIs | T20Is | FC | List A | T20s |
| Mat | 6 | 3 | 1 | 39 | 30 | 66 |
| Inns | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 0 |
| Balls | 0 | 3 | 0 | 120 | 21 | 0 |
| Runs | 0 | 8 | 0 | 96 | 22 | 0 |
| Wkts | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| BBI | — | — | — | — | 1/0 | — |
| BBM | — | — | — | — | 1/0 | — |
| Ave | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 7.33 | 0.00 |
| Econ | 0.00 | 16.00 | 0.00 | 4.80 | 6.28 | 0.00 |
| SR | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 7.00 | 0.00 |
| 4w | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5w | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10w | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sai Sudharsan FAQs
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