DHARAMSHALA: Gujarat Titans opener Sai Sudharsan was cleaned bowled in one of the unluckiest ways during IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium on Tuesday.
Following RCB’s record score of 254 in the playoffs, a flying start was required from the inform Titans openers, Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan.
Sudharsan, coming off five consecutive fifties, started aggressively, hammering two boundaries in the opening over from Jacob Duffy before adding another four when the pacer returned for his second spell.
However, the momentum shifted dramatically following a bizarre incident.
Duffy delivered a short-of-a-good-length ball, and Sudharsan went for a cut shot towards point after staying deep in the crease. But while completing the shot, his bat slipped from his hands, flew behind him, and ricocheted onto the stumps.
Initially unaware of what had happened, Sudharsan had already set off for a run. But after turning back and noticing the disturbed stumps, the GT opener was left stunned.
The left-handed batter shut his eyes in frustration and disbelief before making the long walk back to the pavilion following one of the unluckiest dismissals in IPL playoff history.
With this, he became the first batter to be hit-wicket twice in the tournament’s history. He is also second after Kusal Mendis to be out in this fashion in the IPL playoffs.
Earlier, RCB posted a mammoth total, thanks to Rajat Patidar’s brilliant 93 off 33 balls, including nine sixes and three fours. Virat Kohli also chipped in with a quick-fire 43 off 25, hitting five fours and a six.