Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings will play the final match of IPL 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday. Ahead of the much-anticipated match, Gujarat Titans star opener Sai Sudharsan opened up about his deep emotional bond with CSK, a team he has idolized since childhood.
Sai Sudharsan once again enjoyed a phenomenal IPL season and continues to emerge as one of the most consistent batsmen in the league. After winning the IPL 2025 Orange Cap with a staggering 759 runs, the 24-year-old carried his form into IPL 2026 and remains firmly in contention for another dominant season. Despite a relatively quiet start to the season, Sudharsan has rediscovered his best form and has crossed the 500-run mark for the second consecutive season. In 13 matches so far, the stylish left-hander has scored 554 runs and is currently fourth on the Orange Cap points table heading into the final game of the GT League.
Ahead of the CSK match, Sudharsan recalled the most memorable innings of his IPL career, his first IPL century against Chennai Super Kings in Ahmedabad in 2024.
Speaking on JioStar about his maiden IPL hundred against CSK, Sudharsan admitted that the innings had extra emotional significance due to his childhood association with the Chennai-based franchise.
“It was not a conscious decision; I think it was God’s grace and it came at the right time. But the time spent in between is always special, especially when I play against CSK because no matter what is said and done, for me there is a deep emotional connection with CSK,” Sudharsan said.
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“I grew up watching CSK games. We used to stand on the road just to watch the team bus pass by our school. Those are great memories. I thank God that I was able to put in some memorable performances against CSK,” he added.
Sai Sudharsan scored an impressive 103 runs from just 51 deliveries and shared a record-tying opening partnership of 210 runs with captain Shubman Gill, who also scored 104 runs from 55 deliveries. The stand tied the record for the highest opening partnership in IPL history, previously set by KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock in 2022.