Sai Sudharsan powers Gujarat Titans to top of IPL table with dominant win

Third half-century of the season from Sudharsan fuels Gujarat’s 58-run victory over Rajasthan.

Sai Sudharsan of Gujarat Titans plays a shot during the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 match against Rajasthan Royals at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on April 9, 2025. Photo by Punit Paranjpe/AFP

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Sai Sudharsan powers Gujarat Titans to top of IPL table with a sensational 82-run knock that led his side to a commanding 58-run win over the Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday evening. In front of a roaring home crowd at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the young opener delivered his third half-century of the season, further solidifying his role as Gujarat's batting pillar in the 2025 Indian Premier League.

The left-hander’s 82 off 53 balls set the stage for Gujarat Titans to post a daunting total of 217-6 after being put into bat first by Rajasthan. Sudharsan’s calculated aggression and maturity at the crease were on full display, as he calmly handled Rajasthan’s pace-heavy attack and punished anything loose with authority. His strokeplay was elegant, his temperament steady, and his timing sublime.

Rajasthan Royals, chasing a steep target, could never truly get going. Gujarat’s pace spearhead Prasidh Krishna made sure of that with figures of 3-24, rattling the Rajasthan middle order and preventing any real momentum from building. Though Shimron Hetmyer tried to steady the ship with a fighting 52, it was too little, too late. Rajasthan crumbled to 159 all out in 19.2 overs, giving Gujarat a massive win and their fourth victory in five games.

Sudharsan’s rise continues

At just 23, Sai Sudharsan is having a breakout IPL season. This match marked his third fifty in the 2025 campaign, showing both consistency and flair. He played the sheet anchor role beautifully while also accelerating at key junctures. His innings was laced with stylish drives, clinical pulls, and clever footwork against spin.

Gujarat needed a solid recovery after losing skipper Shubman Gill early. Rajasthan’s Jofra Archer had sent the stumps cartwheeling with a 147 kph rocket that removed Gill in just the second over. But Sudharsan, undeterred, found a rhythm quickly and stabilized the innings.

He stitched together a crucial 80-run partnership for the second wicket with England’s Jos Buttler, who played a supportive 36-run cameo. While Sudharsan handled the pace attack, Buttler kept the scoreboard ticking with his deft touches and occasional boundaries.

Middle-order cameos lift Titans to 217

After Buttler’s dismissal, trapped lbw by Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana on a successful DRS review, Gujarat's middle order took charge. Shahrukh Khan played a handy knock, striking a quick 36, but fell to another Theekshana special—this time stumped off a beautifully tossed delivery.

Sherfane Rutherford, the West Indies power-hitter, showed brief promise with a six off his very first ball, but lasted just three deliveries before Sandeep Sharma dismissed him. The acceleration in the final overs came from Rahul Tewatia and Rashid Khan, who ensured Gujarat crossed the 200-run mark with their aggressive strokeplay.

Prasidh Krishna seals the win

When it was Gujarat’s turn with the ball, the plan was clear: strike early, build pressure, and let Rajasthan crumble under the scoreboard weight. That plan worked to perfection.

Prasidh Krishna returned to form in style, troubling the Rajasthan batters with his pace and bounce. He removed opener Yashasvi Jaiswal for just 9, then dismissed Ravichandran Ashwin, who had been promoted up the order, for 11. Krishna’s spell created a ripple through the Rajasthan batting line-up that they never recovered from.

Even though Hetmyer fought valiantly, the lack of support from the other end hurt Rajasthan’s chances. Samson, Padikkal, and Parag all failed to make an impact. Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad kept things tight in the middle overs, applying relentless pressure with their spin and guile.

Gujarat on a roll

With this victory, Gujarat Titans now sit comfortably at the top of the IPL 2025 points table. It’s a massive turnaround from their opening match loss earlier in the season. Since then, they’ve secured four straight wins, with each game showcasing a different hero. While Rashid Khan has dazzled with the ball and Tewatia with the bat in other matches, this time it was all about Sai Sudharsan.

Sudharsan's performances are not just adding runs—they’re adding belief. For a player who started the season outside the spotlight, his emergence has been a revelation for fans and a headache for opposition bowlers. His temperament, composure, and hunger for runs suggest he’s in it for the long haul.

Rajasthan in trouble?

Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals have slipped to their third loss in just five games. Their inconsistency is beginning to raise questions. The top order looks brittle, and the bowling—despite flashes of brilliance from Archer and Theekshana—isn’t sustaining pressure throughout the innings.

Captain Sanju Samson now has the task of rallying his troops before it’s too late. With the competition heating up, the Royals need more than just individual flashes; they need cohesion, urgency, and consistent contributions.

The IPL 2025 season is far from over, but the early signs point to Gujarat Titans being a serious title contender once again. They’ve got the momentum, a balanced squad, and a star in Sai Sudharsan who’s growing in stature with every match. His match-winning 82 not only secured two crucial points but also signaled a warning to every team in the tournament—this is a player, and a team, on the rise.

Sai Sudharsan powers Gujarat Titans to top of IPL table—and if his current form holds, this might just be the beginning of something special.