Watch- Sai Sudharsan’s Hit Wicket Controversy Takes New Turn, Batter Seen Applying Chemical
An Unprecedented Run of Misfortune
Getting ‘hit wicket’ in any form of cricket is a rare and often embarrassing occurrence for a professional batter. For Gujarat Titans opener Sai Sudharsan, however, it has become an agonizingly frequent trend during the high-stakes environment of the IPL 2026 playoffs. Within the span of a single week, the talented left-hander has found himself walking back to the pavilion in this exact fashion, not once, but twice.
The Viral Footage: Preparation Meets Reality
Following his dismissal against the Rajasthan Royals in New Chandigarh, social media users began circulating a clip that has sparked significant debate. The footage captures a moment prior to the dismissal, where Sai Sudharsan is seen meticulously applying a specialized spray to the handle of his bat. In professional cricket, such sprays are commonly utilized by players to enhance grip and ensure the bat does not slip out of their hands during an aggressive stroke.
Despite his proactive measures to secure his grip and avoid another disaster, fate proved to be unkind. Even with the application of the grip-enhancing chemical, the bat slipped, leading to his unfortunate exit. The irony of the situation has not been lost on cricket fans, as the visual evidence suggests the player was acutely aware of the risks and took all necessary precautions, yet was still undone by the mechanics of his own movement.
A Historic Sequence of Events
The sequence began in the Qualifier 1 match against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on May 26. In the third over of the Gujarat Titans’ pursuit of a massive 255-run target at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, Sudharsan struck a well-timed boundary. However, in the follow-through, his grip failed, and the bat ricocheted off the pitch and into the stumps. It was a crushing blow for the team during a high-pressure run chase.
The nightmare repeated itself just days later in New Chandigarh during Qualifier 2. Facing a low full-toss from Brijesh Sharma, Sudharsan connected perfectly, sending the ball for a boundary. Again, the momentum of the shot caused the bat to fly from his grasp, landing squarely on the stumps. He was dismissed for a fluent 58 off 32 balls, leaving the Titans momentarily vulnerable at 167 for 1. This incident cemented his place in the record books as the first player in IPL history to be dismissed ‘hit wicket’ three times in a career and the first to endure the fate twice in a single season.
Looking Ahead: The Final Showdown
Despite the disruption caused by these bizarre dismissals, the Gujarat Titans successfully advanced to the final. Their performance in Qualifier 2 against the Rajasthan Royals was a masterclass in batting, with the team chasing down a 214-run target with seven wickets and eight balls to spare. Captain Shubman Gill led the charge, blasting a magnificent 104 runs from just 53 balls to dismantle the Royals’ bowling attack.
The stage is now set for a grand finale. The Gujarat Titans are scheduled to face the defending champions, RCB, on Sunday, May 31. The match will be held at the prestigious Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. With the tournament title on the line, all eyes will be on Sudharsan to see if he can overcome this streak of bad luck and contribute to a championship victory. The match is set to commence at 7:30 PM IST, promising a thrilling conclusion to an intense season of cricket.
