Gujarat Titans and Tamil Nadu opener Sai Sudharsan is likely to be unavailable for several weeks after sustaining a rib fracture sustained during the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy. The 24-year-old reported to the BCCI Center of Excellence (CoE) on 29 December 2025 with pain in the right side of the ribcage after diving in the match on 26 December.
Sai Sudharsan initially felt discomfort in the same area about a week ago after being hit by the ball while hitting the nets, but continued to play till the early stages of the tournament.
A subsequent CT scan at the CoE confirmed a slender, non-displaced fracture of the anterior cortex of his right seventh rib, ruling him out of contention for the time being, India Today sources said.
The medical staff began a carefully structured rehabilitation plan, with Sudharsan initially focusing on lower body strength and conditioning while his ribs are protected to facilitate healing. Once acute symptoms have stabilized over the next 7-10 days, upper body training is expected to be introduced and gradually intensified in a phased program designed to restore full fitness.
The injury is a significant setback for both Sudharsan and the Titans, who see the left-hander as a key part of their batting line-up ahead of IPL 2026. Known for his ability to anchor the innings and turn the strike, Sudharsan was in good touch with domestic cricket before the injury, scoring useful runs in the first matches of Vijay Hazare’s campaign.
Although a non-displaced rib fracture usually heals without surgery, the emphasis is now shifting to careful management and a structured return to full training. If all goes according to plan, Sudharsan could be back in contention long before the IPL starts, offering relief to Titans fans who want to see the batter’s promising return to action.
Sudharsan has been in good form on the domestic circuit, scoring 192 runs in six matches in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 with a strike rate of over 150. He made 99 runs in two matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy before picking up an injury.
The Tamil Nadu batsman would be hoping to use the ongoing domestic season to return to top form ahead of the IPL 2026 season which starts in March.
Sai has been looking to cement his place in Tests after making his England debut last year. He played six matches and scored 302 runs at an average of 27.45.
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Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
January 2, 2026
