Watch- Sai Sudharsan’s Hit Wicket Controversy Takes New Turn, Batter Seen Applyi

The Grip Spray Revelation: Sai Sudharsan’s Pre-Match Ritual

Getting dismissed ‘hit wicket’ in any level of cricket is an incredibly rare and embarrassing occurrence. For Gujarat Titans’ talented opener Sai Sudharsan, however, it has quickly transformed into an unfortunate trend. The prolific left-hander has now endured this unusual and frustrating mode of dismissal twice within a single week.

Both of Sudharsan’s bizarre dismissals took place during the crucial playoffs stage of the IPL 2026 season, raising eyebrows across the cricketing world and leaving fans in utter disbelief. However, a new dimension has been added to this unfolding saga. Shortly after his latest dismissal against the Rajasthan Royals in New Chandigarh, previously unseen footage surfaced on social media, revealing that the batter was actively trying to prevent this mishap before taking the crease.

In the viral video, Sai Sudharsan is seen applying a special spray to his bat handle. Batters typically use these chemical grip sprays to enhance their hold on the handle, especially in humid conditions, minimizing the risk of the bat slipping out of their hands during high-impact shots. Despite taking these meticulous precautions to avoid the dreaded slip, fate clearly had other plans for the young Gujarat Titans star.

The Dharamsala Nightmare: Qualifier 1 vs RCB

The first of Sudharsan’s bizarre playoff dismissals occurred during Qualifier 1 of the IPL 2026 season on May 26. Facing the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in a high-octane encounter at the picturesque HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, the Gujarat Titans were tasked with chasing a massive target of 255 runs.

During the third over of the run chase, Sudharsan perfectly timed a delivery for what should have been a cracking boundary. However, as he completed his follow-through, the bat slipped completely out of his grasp. In a moment of sheer bad luck, the bat bounced once on the pitch before spinning backward and crashing directly into the stumps. The unexpected dismissal left the batsman stunned and put the Titans under immediate pressure in their mammoth chase.

History Repeats Itself in New Chandigarh: Qualifier 2 vs RR

Just a couple of days later, the nightmare repeated itself in Qualifier 2 against the Rajasthan Royals in New Chandigarh. Sudharsan was in sublime touch, anchoring the innings beautifully and batting on a well-compiled 58 runs off just 32 deliveries.

Facing Brijesh Sharma, Sudharsan executed a brilliant shot against a low full-toss, sending the ball racing away for a boundary. But once again, the grip failed him. The bat went flying out of his hands, launching into the air before landing squarely on top of the stumps. This highly unusual dismissal ended his brilliant knock and broke a dominant opening partnership, with the Titans losing their first wicket at 167 runs in 12.5 overs.

An Unwanted Record in IPL History

With these back-to-back incidents, Sai Sudharsan has carved out an unwanted niche for himself in the record books. He has officially become the first cricketer in IPL history to be dismissed ‘hit wicket’ three times over the course of his career. Furthermore, he is the first player to suffer this exact fate twice within a single IPL season—let alone in the span of one week during the high-pressure playoffs.

While the grip spray video shows his awareness of the issue, the execution on the field remains an obstacle he must urgently resolve before the grand finale.

Gujarat Titans Secure Final Berth Against RCB

Despite the setback of Sudharsan’s bizarre dismissal in Qualifier 2, the Gujarat Titans showed why they are one of the most formidable teams in the tournament. The Titans absolutely pulverized the Rajasthan Royals, chasing down a formidable target of 214 runs with seven wickets in hand and eight balls to spare.

The chase was masterfully spearheaded by captain Shubman Gill, who played a sensational knock of 104 runs from just 53 deliveries, making a mockery of the Royals’ bowling attack. Thanks to Gill’s masterclass, the Titans have booked their place in the IPL 2026 final, where they are set to lock horns with the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

The highly anticipated final is scheduled for Sunday, May 31, at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. With the action commencing at 7:30 PM IST, all eyes will be on Sai Sudharsan to see if he can overcome his grip struggles and help lead his side to championship glory without another costly equipment mishap.