Born in Chennai, 24-year-old, Sai Sudharsan grew up with cricket stitched into his childhood memories, though not always with open doors. When neighbourhood kids refused to let him and his brother join their tennis-ball cricket matches, he turned that rejection into resolve, telling his mother he wanted to play elsewhere.

That spark ignited a journey that would see him rise rapidly through Tamil Nadu’s cricketing ranks leading to international matches. By 2021, he was starring for Lyca Kovai Kings in the Tamil Nadu Premier League, and within months, he was fast-tracked into the IPL with Gujarat Titans, where his elegant left-handed stroke play made him one of the tournament’s most consistent performers. His breakout 96 in the IPL 2023 final against CSK announced him as a big-match player, and by 2024 he had earned his India cap across formats, including a Test debut against England in 2025.

Known for his exquisite and impeccable timing rather than brute force, Sudharsan topped the IPL charts in 2025 with 759 runs at a strike rate of 156, cementing his reputation as a modern-day craftsman of T20 batting. Off the field, he remains deeply rooted in family, sharing a special bond with his mother, often accompanying her to temples and coffee outings, cherishing the quiet moments away from the spotlight. For a cricketer whose rise has been meteoric, Sudharsan’s story is as much about discipline and adaptability as it is about love, support, and the simple joy of playing the game he was once denied. Here’s an up, close and personal rendezvous with the man of the moment as we catch up with him just as the IPL 2026 season is ready to kick off.

When did you first realise that you wanted to pursue your passion for cricket and make it your profession?
As far as I remember my childhood, when we first moved from Kottivakkam to Mylapore, we stayed in our apartment, which had a lot of small kids around. I was also very small. They were all playing cricket with tennis ball. At that time, my brother and I wanted to go and play, but they didn’t allow us to play with them. They told us that we cannot include you in their game. They told us to wait outside. That day I came home and told my mom I wanted to go and play cricket somewhere else, and that’s how the journey started.

How old were you then?
I would have been probably eight or nine years old.

So, then you enrolled into some cricket academy for coaching after that?
Yes. I started playing at Alphonsa Ground, a Corporation ground. My first coaching academy was VB Cricket Academy. It was in Mylapore in Chennai, which was a great start for me. I’m grateful that till date there have been so many people who have helped me and are still helping me. My cricket journey has been really interesting.

Who inspired you at that young age?
When I was very young, I took cricket very seriously, and I started practising very sincerely. I started training every day and also loved batting. At that time, Washington Sundar was my biggest role model because the way he climbed up the ladder was inspiring. He played for the country when he was 17 or 18. So that made him my biggest inspiration at that age to start with. And after that, there were so many people, I used to play cricket with. I loved Justin Langer a lot and I used to watch a lot of videos of him.

Tell us something interesting about journey from domestic to national cricket?
The biggest and most interesting part of my life was when I played everything in one year. So, the first time I played for Lyca Kovai Kings in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) in 2021, I was also selected to play in the IPL the same year. It was after COVID and after TNPL, the following season I played the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) and then I played the Ranji Trophy and then I played IPL. So, everything happened really quick in 2021 and 2022.

What was the biggest turning point for you?
The biggest incident was when I was 18 years old, I was a part of the Under 19 Tamil Nadu team. I was dropped from the team. I didn’t do exceedingly well, but not so bad to get dropped from the team, so I was shocked at that moment when I got the information.

I was at the airport and was checking in for the next destination and they told me you’re going back to Chennai because you’re not in the team anymore. I probably would have cried for 45 minutes at the airport. That was the biggest turning point for me. Luckily, it was 31st December, so it was a blessing in disguise. From January 1st, I was determined to become a different person. I went into deep reflection and came back with a renewed drive and started looking at the sport differently. I worked twice as hard as I generally would, and took a holistic approach to the sport. I was not only playing, but training really hard. I also started working out and lost a lot of weight. My food patterns also changed. So, I think that was the biggest turning point for me that triggered me to become an international-level cricketer.

So, was that the most challenging phase of your career?
Oh yes, definitely.

On the pitch you look very calm and composed, when you’re batting. How do you maintain that calmness or that mindset on the field?
It’s an acquired habit which I’ve mastered over the years. I also used to get tensed and anxious. I used to get under pressure sometimes when I played, but I trained my inner voice to tell me to stay calm. I’ve now made it a habit whenever I’m practicing or playing on the ground that I have to be calm.

Do you do meditation also and has it helped?
Oh yeah, definitely. I do a lot of meditation. I do a lot of visualisation too and also a lot of journalling. I actually think a lot, but journalling and all these meditation sessions help me to organise my thoughts. It helps me to stay sane.

How do you prepare yourself before an important match?
My match day minus one is always curated. It’s actually a long list, but I’ll give a very short explanation to that question. I don’t talk much before the match. I like to just relax a lot and not think about the sport. I do a lot of things which makes me excited. I like to draw, so I draw and also listen to a lot of music. I like to do just basic normal stuff, which is slightly off the sport, and when I enter the field, I am all ready to take the game head on. I like to hear the song – Neeye Oli by Santhosh Narayanan before getting on the field.

What are your other passions?
I learnt Carnatic music as a kid, but I found it repetitive so I quit my music training. I also like to draw. I wasn’t someone who watched a lot of films earlier, but when I watched Rajinikanth’s speeches at his launches, I got totally hooked. Muthu that came out in 1995 is my all-time favourite Rajini film, although I have enjoyed all his films.

How did your family react when you decided to become a professional cricketer?
The decision was actually made together with the family. I was studying in DAV, a proper academic school and from there I shifted to Santhome Higher Secondary school, which is a proper cricketing school. So that decision was made by my parents. They always saw that passion for cricket in me. They knew that I wanted to play the sport, give my best and excel so they gave me the best. My father used to stay with me for all my practice sessions. If I played for six hours, he would stay for all those six hours with me. My brother also supported me a lot. During lockdown, we used to practice cricket on our terrace.

What did you learn from your senior players during the IPL season?
Actually, it was the 2023 finals against CSK. It was one of the defining knocks, I would say. Till now that has been my greatest memory. There are many, but the best, I would say is this.

When you’re not playing cricket, what is your typical day like?
I wake up early. Even though I’m not playing, I wake up early and probably spend a lot of time with my family. I like to go out with them sometimes for a coffee. I have a few favourites spots in Chennai that I like visiting like Bilal. I take my family out for lunch or dinner or maybe a chai and bun maska, and kinds.

Tell us about the mother-son bonding?
I like to spend time with my mom. I love to take her out. She loves to visit temples so we do that as well. We have a very special bond that cannot be explained. My ideal day would be doing things we both love doing together. My mother sometimes shows me cute edits of girls’ fan videos of mine.

Have you noticed many comments from your fans on your dimples?
Yes (he smiles).

Some fun moments during your training sessions?
“Monica” song was trending so we danced on that song after our training and some friends recorded a video which got posted on social media and everyone saw it.

Are you a momma’s boy or a daddy’s pet?
Both are strict yet very loving. My parents are very open and affectionate.

How was experience playing with MS Dhoni?
Hardik Pandya first took me to meet MS Dhoni, because he felt I was nervous. He was very sweet and humble, and made me very comfortable. After that we have been meeting for all the matches and he speaks to me for a few minutes. The biggest learning from him is his calmness. There’s lots that is behind his calm stature.

Which bowler has been the toughest for you to face?
Everybody has been tough (he laughs).

But if you were to name one?
Jasprit Bumrah.

Your favourite shot to play under pressure?
My favourite shot to play under pressure, I would say would be a straight drive.

Who has been like a pillar of strength in your life?
My parents have been the biggest support to start with.

Who’s been a big support in your career?
There are so many coaches who have been helping me. I cannot name one because so many people have helped me shape who I am today.

Any childhood memory related to cricket that has stayed with you?
I remember jumping with so much excitement in front of the TV, when India won the World Cup in 2011.

If not cricket, what would you be doing?
If not cricket, I would definitely be playing some other sport. I would have been an athlete for sure.

Any advice for younger professionals who want to get into this sport?
My biggest realisation which I like to follow is being consistent. I feel consistency is the key for everything. Since this is what I follow, I would like to advise the same.

Rapid Fire

Tea or coffee?
Tea and coffee, both.

Morning or night person?
Morning.

Beach or Mountains?
Mountains.

Batting or chasing?
Chasing.

Net practice or gym workout?
Net.

IPL or domestic grind?
Oh, both are really important.

Music before a match or silence?
Silence with music. No random talks.

Home food or hotel buffet?
Home food.

Your favourite mom’s dish?
My favourite is Dosa and tomato chutney.

Instagram or offline?
Offline.

Cover drive or pull shot?
Cover drive.

Facing pace or facing spin?
Spin.

Test cricket or T 20?
Test cricket.

Power Play or Death Overs?
Power Play. I’m an opener after all.

Favourite cheat meal?
There is a long list, but biryani tops it all. Next comes hot chocolate and then whatever sweet or dessert I can get.

One superstition before going to play?
There are 10,000 superstitions I may believe in, but I touch the ground with my hands and enter the field whenever I’m playing.

One word to describe you or your batting style.
Elegance.

Early alarm or five more minutes?
Early alarm.

Road trips or flights?
Road trips.

Calls or texts?
Calls, for sure.

Netflix or PlayStation?
PlayStation.

Who is the funniest off field?
Shah Rukh Khan.

And the funniest in the dressing room?
Rahul Tewatia.

Any plans of entering the film world?
Not really.