Watch- Sai Sudharsan’s Hit Wicket Controversy Takes New Turn, Batter Seen Applyi
The Bizarre Case of Sai Sudharsan’s Playoff Dismissals
Getting dismissed ‘hit wicket’ in cricket is one of the rarest and most frustrating ways for a batter to lose their wicket. For Gujarat Titans’ prolific opener Sai Sudharsan, however, this rare occurrence has transformed into a highly unusual trend. During the high-octane playoffs of the IPL 2026 season, the left-handed batter suffered this exact misfortune twice within a single week, sparking intense discussion across the cricketing community.
As fans and analysts debated the mechanics behind these freak dismissals, an intriguing piece of footage emerged online. In the video titled Watch- Sai Sudharsan’s Hit Wicket Controversy Takes New Turn, Batter Seen Applyi a grip spray to his bat, the young opener can be seen meticulously preparing his gear prior to the match to avoid the very mishap that eventually unfolded.
The Dual Disasters: Qualifier 1 and Qualifier 2
Sudharsan’s nightmare run began on May 26 during Qualifier 1 against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the picturesque HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala. Chasing a mammoth target of 255 runs, the Gujarat Titans needed a flying start. Sudharsan looked in sublime touch, timing a delivery perfectly for a boundary. However, in his follow-through during the third over, he lost his grip on the bat. The bat bounced once on the pitch and struck the stumps, leaving the batter stunned and his team in a precarious position.
Just a couple of days later, history repeated itself in New Chandigarh during Qualifier 2 against the Rajasthan Royals. Facing Brijesh Sharma, Sudharsan executed a brilliant shot against a low full-toss, dispatching it for a cracking boundary. But once again, the bat slipped completely out of his hands, flying backwards before landing directly onto his stumps. This freak dismissal cut short a magnificent innings of 58 off just 32 balls, which had positioned the Titans strongly at 167 for 1 in 12.5 overs.
Behind the Scenes: The Spray Controversy
Following the second incident, a previously unseen video surfaced on social media platforms, shedding light on the batter’s pre-match preparation. The footage reveals Sai Sudharsan applying a specialized spray to his bat handle. Such chemical sprays are commonly utilized by professional batters to enhance their grip, particularly in humid conditions where sweat can cause the hands to slip.
Despite his proactive efforts to chemically enhance his grip and prevent the bat from slipping, fate proved unkind. The application of the grip spray was not enough to stop the momentum of his powerful swing, resulting in his second hit-wicket dismissal in under a week. This revelation has added a layer of irony to the controversy, showing that the batter was fully aware of the risk and had actively tried to mitigate it.
A Historic and Unwanted Record
With these consecutive dismissals, Sai Sudharsan has etched his name into the IPL record books for all the wrong reasons. He has become the first cricketer in the history of the Indian Premier League to be dismissed ‘hit wicket’ three times in his career. Furthermore, he is the first player to suffer this specific dismissal twice in a single IPL season.
Gujarat Titans March to the Final
Despite the distraction of Sudharsan’s bizarre dismissals, the Gujarat Titans put on a dominant display in Qualifier 2. They clinically chased down the Rajasthan Royals’ competitive total of 214 runs in New Chandigarh, winning by seven wickets with eight balls to spare. The chase was masterminded by captain Shubman Gill, who played a breathtaking innings of 104 runs from just 53 deliveries.
The Titans are now scheduled to lock horns with the defending champions, RCB, in the highly anticipated IPL 2026 final on Sunday, May 31. The grand finale will take place at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, starting at 7:30 PM IST. With Sudharsan reportedly devising special plans to ensure his bat stays firmly in his hands, all eyes will be on the opener to see if he can break his hit-wicket curse on the biggest stage of all.
