Gujarat Titans and Tamil Nadu opener Sai Sudharsan is staring at a short spell on the sidelines after suffering a rib fracture during the ongoing domestic season, raising mild concern ahead of the IPL 2026 build-up.
What exactly happened?
The 24-year-old picked up the injury during a Vijay Hazare Trophy match on December 26, when he landed awkwardly while attempting a diving effort in the field. Though Sudharsan completed the game, discomfort around the right side of his rib cage persisted.
He reported to the BCCI Centre of Excellence on December 29, where scans confirmed a slender, undisplaced fracture of the anterior cortex of his right seventh rib, sources told India Today.
Interestingly, the batter had felt mild pain in the same area earlier after being struck by a delivery during net practice, but chose to play through the early part of the tournament.
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Rehab plan already underway
Medical staff have put Sudharsan on a structured rehabilitation programme. For now, the focus is on lower-body strength and conditioning while the rib heals. Upper-body training is expected to begin after 7–10 days, once the acute pain settles, followed by a gradual return to full cricketing workload.
An undisplaced rib fracture usually heals without surgery, but doctors are keen on careful load management to avoid complications.
Why this matters for Gujarat Titans
For Gujarat Titans, the timing isn’t ideal. Sudharsan has become a vital part of their batting core, valued for his calm approach at the top and ability to anchor innings when required.
The left-hander was in solid touch before the injury. He scored 192 runs at a strike rate of over 150 in six matches of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and added 99 runs in two Vijay Hazare Trophy games.
IPL 2026 still within reach
The good news is that the recovery timeline leaves room for optimism. If rehabilitation progresses as planned, Sudharsan is expected to be fit well before the IPL 2026, which begins in March.
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The domestic season was meant to be Sudharsan’s launchpad back to peak form after a mixed Test run in England last year, where he scored 302 runs from six matches at an average of 27.45.
For now, it’s a waiting game — but one Titans fans will hope ends with their dependable opener back in the nets sooner rather than later.
