Will Sai Sudharsan's Recovery from Rib Fracture Delay His Return to the Field?
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New Delhi, Jan 2 (NationPress) The promising young Indian left-handed batter B Sai Sudharsan is set to spend a considerable amount of time off the field following a right rib fracture he suffered during a Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh in Ahmedabad.
According to sources, Sudharsan, who has participated in six Tests and three ODIs for India, fractured the anterior cortex of his seventh right rib while attempting a diving run during the match. He reported to the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru on December 29 and is now unlikely to participate in Tamil Nadu's remaining fixtures of the domestic season.
“Sai Sudharsan arrived at the Centre of Excellence on December 29, 2025, with an injury to the right side of his rib cage incurred while diving during a run in a Vijay Hazare Trophy match on December 26, 2025. He had previously experienced a similar issue about a week earlier while batting in the nets when he was hit by a ball. A follow-up CT scan has confirmed a minor, undisplaced fracture of the anterior cortex of the right seventh rib,” sources familiar with the scan report disclosed to IANS on Friday.
With India preparing for a Test series against Sri Lanka in August, Sudharsan's immediate goal will be to achieve full fitness ahead of the IPL 2026, set to commence on March 26. Recovery from such injuries typically ranges from six to twelve weeks.
Sudharsan has developed a successful opening partnership with Shubman Gill for the Gujarat Titans, making his presence vital for the team's strategy, particularly since he was the top run-scorer in IPL 2025.
“Currently, Sai is engaged in lower-body conditioning exercises with necessary support for the injured rib to promote healing, and he has shown positive responses to the regimen. Upper-body workouts will commence once acute symptoms diminish over the next 7-10 days, after which he will progressively transition into a structured upper-body conditioning program,” the sources added.
Additionally, right-handed batter Shreyas Iyer is also at the CoE, aiming to regain match fitness after suffering a severe spleen injury during the third ODI against Australia in Sydney. Moreover, batting all-rounder Riyan Parag is working at the CoE to recover from a shoulder issue that has caused him to miss games for Assam in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.