Opener Sai Sudharsan credited Gujarat Titans' aggressive powerplay strategy and his commanding partnership with captain Shubman Gill for the side's imposing 229/4 against Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on 9 May 2026. Sudharsan's fluent 55 off 36 balls formed the foundation of a 118-run opening stand, during which the pair raced to 82/0 in six overs — Gujarat's joint-highest powerplay total in IPL history.

Batting conditions and pitch behaviour

Sudharsan noted that the Sawai Mansingh Stadium pitch offered favourable strokeplay early but deteriorated as the innings progressed. "At the start, the wicket was really good, but once the ball got rough, I think it started to turn a bit and it was a bit slow actually," he said. The left-hander struck six fours and two sixes, capitalising on a surface that became increasingly challenging for aggressive batting against slower deliveries and spin bowling.

Targeting the powerplay against Archer

Gujarat Titans had specifically identified the opportunity to dominate the new-ball phase against Rajasthan Royals' pace attack, particularly Jofra Archer. "It's always a great challenge playing against Jofra, but we had it in our mind, if an over started really well for us, we went for the over and it happened very well in the powerplay," Sudharsan explained. Archer endured a difficult opening spell as the openers took full toll on loose deliveries, setting the tone for Gujarat's aggressive approach.

Partnership philosophy and fearless batting

Sudharsan and Gill maintained an attacking mindset throughout their stand, refusing to allow Rajasthan any respite. "We were very free, to be honest. Me and Shubman, we were going after the bowlers. There was no hesitation or resistance when we went on to bat," Sudharsan said. The pair's willingness to take calculated risks against both pace and spin proved decisive in building momentum early.

Learning from Gill's approach

The opener spoke highly of his relationship with Gill, describing how the captain's experience and tactical acumen influenced his own batting. "I think we share a very good partnership with each other, a very good relationship. And I feel I look up to a lot of things from Shubman," Sudharsan noted. He added that Gill's feedback after boundaries and overs served as validation for his aggressive intent and helped him maintain directional consistency.

The bigger picture

Gill went on to score a blistering 84 off 44 balls, while late contributions from Washington Sundar and Rahul Tewatia propelled Gujarat Titans to 229/4. Sudharsan acknowledged that his dismissal came at an opportune moment for Rajasthan, but suggested a longer partnership could have yielded an even larger total. The total sets up a challenging chase on a pitch that is expected to offer assistance to spin bowlers and slower deliveries in the second innings.