R Ashwin makes bold comment about Sai Sudarshan’s strike rate despite having the orange cap in IPL 2026

Former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has made a big statement on Sai Sudarshan’s batting style, even as the young opening batsman is enjoying a dream season with Gujarat Titans in the ongoing IPL 2026. Despite Sai Sudarshan’s stellar performance with the bat for Gujarat Titans, Ashwin believes that the left-handed batsman still has one major area where he needs to improve.

Sai Sudarshan has been in great form in the ongoing IPL 2026 season. The stylish opener currently leads the race for the Orange Cap with 638 runs in 14 innings at a strike rate close to 158. His consistency at the top has played a huge role in Gujarat Titans reaching the playoffs this season.

Ravichandran Ashwin makes bold comment on Sai Sudarshan’s batting style

However, Ravichandran Ashwin feels that modern T20 cricket now demands dangerous attack from top-order batsmen, and believes that Sudarshan needs to improve his finishing pace to take his game to another level, as he is currently playing “traditional cricket”.

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His suggestion came after Sudarshan’s brilliant inning of 84 off 53 balls helped GT beat Chennai Super Kings by 89 runs in Ahmedabad. Ashwin particularly noticed how Sudarshan used his legs aggressively against Anshul Kamboj during the powerplay. He played a high shot at mid-off and it showed a slightly different attacking intent from the left-handed batsman.

Ravichandran Ashwin praised Sai Sudarshan’s smart mind

Ravichandran Ashwin said on his YouTube channel, “He (Sai ​​Sudarshan) is not one of your modern T20 batsmen, but the way he used his feet today was good to watch. He came out in the powerplay and hit Anshul Kamboj’s first ball over mid-off. He doesn’t often hit that straight, but today, he played his first lofted shot there.”

The former off-spinner praised Sudarshan for brilliantly using his mind against the bowlers without relying on raw power and creating pressure in clever ways through placements.

Ashwin further said, “If it had been straight to mid-off, it would have been a catch, but we have to praise him because this guy keeps doing something which unsettles the bowlers. He doesn’t have power; he is not a powerful T20 hitter. He bats conservatively, but by using his brains, running two or playing good shots, he unsettles the bowler.”

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Ashwin says Shubman Gill can be even more dangerous in T20

Meanwhile, the former Indian all-rounder also praised Shubman Gill for changing his approach in IPL 2026. The GT captain has looked much more aggressive in the powerplay this season and has attacked the bowlers from the start rather than taking extra time to settle down.

Ashwin feels Gill’s intent has improved significantly compared to last season, but the Gujarat Titans skipper is still far from reaching his full batting potential.

He concluded by saying, “There is a huge difference in his powerplay intent. The amount of runs has always been there and is on the Orange Cap list, but he has shown us that he can play with intent. I am still saying it is 60-70 per cent at the most. He has not used his full potential yet. He is a special batsman and can do more.”