New Delhi, March 27 – Gujarat Titans opener B Sai Sudharsan, who finished as the top run-scorer in the 2025 IPL, says that embracing responsibility and developing a new identity were the key takeaways from his successful campaign, adding that the franchise's culture also played a significant role in his success in the 10-team competition.
In the 2025 IPL, left-handed Sudharsan amassed 759 runs at an average of 54.2 and a strike-rate of 156.17, which marked his best season in four years of playing in the tournament. Looking back, Sudharsan says that the biggest learning was gaining a new identity and taking on responsibility. He believes that this experience was the most valuable lesson he learned during the season.
"The biggest learning for me was getting into a new identity and taking on that responsibility. I feel that is the most important thing I learned from that season," he said.
Sudharsan also spoke about the importance of teamwork and hard work. "Yes, it was because of the efforts and hard work we put in last year that we achieved success," he added.
When asked about a specific moment that marked a turning point in his career, Sudharsan pointed to his unbeaten 108 against Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, where he and Shubman Gill chased down 200 without losing any wickets.
"As a player, I and Shubman were always focused on playing aggressively and winning games for the team. One of the biggest challenges was finishing the game without losing any wickets," he said.
Sudharsan also praised the environment at GT, which is known for nurturing young talent. He says that the freedom to express himself has been the most important factor in his development.
"The environment here has helped me to express myself rather than resist doing things. It has given me the space and platform to do what I enjoy," he said.
Sudharsan, known for his elegant and unorthodox strokeplay, says that the foundation of his improved power-hitting skills lies in getting the basics right.
"I focus a lot on basics – simple stuff that can be replicated against every ball. This helps me in both white ball and red ball cricket, especially in white ball games where I can generate more power when I am batting," he said.
He further explains that sharper decision-making, rather than a complete overhaul of his game, has helped him adapt to the demands of the shortest format.
"Actually, I don't think the sport has changed that much. But yes, it has evolved. My decision-making has improved, and I am better able to identify opportunities to score off bowlers," he said.
Sudharsan concluded by talking about his early interactions with Australian batting great Matthew Hayden, who has joined GT as batting coach for this season.
"I have had some interesting conversations with Hayden about the mental aspects of the game. I would love to learn from him," he said.