Sai Sudharsan earned himself a Test cap with how collected and polished he appeared enroute to the Orange Cap and the Emerging Player Award in IPL 2025, placing 759 runs as he appeared utterly unflappable on the prime of the order for Gujarat Titans.
His hope for the 2026 season can be to proceed engaged on his recreation – a dip can be pure and virtually anticipated, however as he begins his marketing campaign in opposition to Punjab Kings on Tuesday night, he’ll need to guarantee it gained’t be a extreme one.
GT’s new batting coach is probably one of the crucial fearsome left-handed openers of all time, and dealing with Matthew Hayden is simply more likely to take Sudharsan from power to power. The Australian opener showered the 24-year-old with reward, impressed significantly by the workrate Sudharsan had proven in camps main as much as the season.
“You’ve just had Ricky Ponting in here. Ricky Ponting was one of the hardest working cricketers that I came across in my time. Sai Sudharsan would be a multiple of two, as to what Ricky did,” lavished Hayden evaluating Sudharsan to the legendary Australian skipper who’s recognised as one of many best batters within the historical past of the game.
Sudharsan exemplifies ever-improving fashionable gamers
“Coming from a completely different mindset of the last two years, what I’ve seen is an immense resource that is afforded to players to continue to grow in their game,” he continued. “As Ricky said, you don’t get better doing something by doing less of it. And Sudharsan is a phenomenal example of that.”
For Hayden, Sudharsan stands as a shining instance of how gamers have been capable of have meteoric rises and work on their video games like by no means earlier than, whereas additionally sustaining a supreme stage of dedication that ensures they’re constantly taking a step up on ranges.
“The professional level has gone up a complete notch since I retired. They improve by the day because they’re willing to invest time, and the game is willing to invest the resource. Not only the fitness but the batting techniques and batability, if you like,” stated Hayden. “You see an evolution of a batsman now… there is a plethora of opportunity for players to get incrementally better, and Sai is one of those guys like Shubman who has embraced that.”
“It’s a privilege to watch how they go about their preparation,” stated Hayden concerning Sudharsan and his opening associate and captain Shubman Gill, who’s undoubtedly somebody who belongs in that class as properly.
Gujarat’s marketing campaign will get underway with a visit to Mullanpur for a match in opposition to 2025 runners-up Punjab Kings, led by Hayden’s long-time teammate Ricky Ponting as coach. GT proved to be very depending on their prime order in 2025, and Sudharsan is about to be a key a part of that after once more.
