Sai Sudharsan with GT batting coach Matthew Hayden. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Batting partnerships are usually measured in numbers: runs, averages, strike rates. But for Gujarat Titans’ Sai Sudharsan, the more compelling story lies beneath: influence and how it shapes decision-making in real time. In his case, that influence is Shubman Gill.
Answering a Zoom call on Friday who has had the biggest influence on his batting, he said: “I think I should say Shubman Gill because playing alongside him and watching him play in the nets, I think I have learned a lot.
“It’s about having game sense. Making the right decisions in the game: what we have to do, who we have to target. There are conversations about that: improving game sense or game awareness. For example, how we can do things when we are in a particular situation.”
He described his initial partnership with Captain Gill as one based on instinct and adaptability. “I think we focus a lot more on percentage, reacting well rather than having predetermined notions. We have similar batting styles and we both have our own way of looking at things or approaching a situation. Sometimes when I find it difficult, Shubman comes to the rescue and that’s how our partnership works.”
He added that his combination can alternate between “maximizing PowerPlay” and “offering stability with controlled aggression” as needed.
Reflecting on the Gujarat Titans’ surroundings, the 24-year-old emphasized their non-judgemental culture. “The most important thing is that there is no judgment. People won’t stop you from doing what you want to do. It’s more expressive than people judging you for what you’re doing. It’s more of a trial and error kind of thing, where you do what you want and you learn from it,” he said.
With Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel and Gill already criticizing the Impact Player rule, Sai Sudharsan called it “a cheat code” that “changes team combinations” but refrained from judging its merit.
Published – March 27, 2026 08:45 pm IST
