Indian spin legend Ravichandran Ashwin feels Gujarat Titans (GT) opener Sai Sudharsan should learn to accelerate towards the back end of the innings. He opined that the southpaw needed to improve to match the demands of modern-day T20 cricket.

Sudharsan has shown terrific form in IPL 2026 and is currently the Orange Cap holder. The opening batter has amassed 638 runs from 14 innings at a strike rate of 157.92. Speaking about the 24-year-old’s batting style, Ashwin remarked in his YouTube video:

“I want to praise Shubman Gill’s batting. He has put in a lot of effort and has shown great intent in the powerplay. I wouldn’t say the same thing about Sai Sudharsan. Sai Sudharsan plays conventional cricket, but capitalizes later on. I still think Sai Sudharsan needs to accelerate towards the end of the innings. T20 cricket has changed. He can do a lot more.”

Sudharsan shone with the bat in GT’s 89-run win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Ahmedabad on Thursday, May 21. He played a brilliant 84-run knock off 53 balls. Ashwin noted that the talented batter hit a four over mid-off after stepping out of the crease against Anshul Kamboj.

The former cricketer praised Sudharsan’s ability to upset the rhythm of the bowlers. He stated:

“He is not one of your modern-day T20 batters, but the way he used his feet today was good to see. He stepped out and hit Anshul Kamboj’s first ball over mid-off in the powerplay. He doesn’t hit straight that often, but today, he played his first lofted shot there.

“It would have been a catch had the mid-off been straighter, but we should praise him because this guy does something or the other to upset the rhythm of the bowlers. He doesn’t have power; he is not a powerful T20 hitter, he bats conventionally, but by using his brain, by running two, or by playing good shots, he upsets the bowler.”

With the comprehensive win over CSK, the Shubman Gill-led GT have secured a top-two finish in IPL 2026.

“He has not unlocked his full potential yet” – R Ashwin on Shubman Gill’s batting exploits in IPL 2026

R Ashwin lauded GT skipper Shubman Gill for changing his powerplay approach. He pointed out that the right-handed batter has played attacking cricket right from the outset.

However, Ashwin suggested that Gill has yet to unlock his full potential as a batter. He said in the same video:

“There is a huge difference in his powerplay intent. The volume of runs has always been there and is in the Orange Cap list, but he’s shown us that he can play with intent. I am still saying that it is 60-70 percent maximum. He has not unlocked his full potential yet. He is a special batter and can do more.”

Gill is the second-highest run-scorer in IPL 2026. He has scored 616 runs from 13 innings with a strike rate of 161.67.