New Delhi: Sai Sudharsan faced an unusual predicament during the IPL 2026 Qualifier 2 against the Rajasthan Royals when he inadvertently knocked the bails off the stumps with his bat after scoring a boundary, marking a repeat occurrence from the previous match against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Sudharsan showcased commendable batting alongside Shubman Gill, contributing to a robust 167-run opening partnership, the highest ever recorded for any wicket in an IPL playoff match.
Despite his mishap—where he dropped the bat back onto the stumps after another four—it was a lighter moment for the Gujarat Titans (GT). Gill remained unbeaten at 95 as GT pursued a target of 215, leading to their successful entry into the final with a seven-wicket victory. During the post-match interview, Sudharsan humorously responded to broadcasters’ comments about using glue to keep his bat in hand, mentioning, “I think I should try some grip tech now… Seriously, in the last game, it just bounced a few times and hit the stumps.”
The partnership between Sudharsan and Gill not only secured their match but also set a new benchmark, eclipsing the previous record of 159 runs set by Michael Hussey and Murali Vijay during the IPL 2011 final. Furthermore, Sudharsan and Gill now hold the record for the most T20 partnerships of 100 or more, achieving this milestone 11 times, surpassing the previous record shared by several renowned pairs, including Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli.
With this victory, the Titans reached their third IPL final in just five seasons, having won the championship in their debut season in 2022 and narrowly missing out to the Chennai Super Kings in the 2023 final. They are now set to face the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL 2026 final, seeking to add another title to their achievements.
