Sai Sudharsan storms past Virat Kohli, matches Virender Sehwag’s iconic all-time IPL record in GT vs CSK clash

Sai Sudharsan scored a fifth consecutive half-century in IPL 2026 in the match against Chennai Super Kings, getting to the mark in 35 balls.

Updated on: May 21, 2026, 21:01:18 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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In a format where risk-taking has become the norm, Sai Sudharsan hit a new high in consistency, taking him past Virat Kohli and matching an iconic IPL record held by Virender Sehwag, which happened in the game between the Gujarat Titans and the Chennai Super Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday.

Sai Sudharsan watches the ball after playing a shot during the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) T20 match between Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings (AFP)

Sudharsan scored a fifth consecutive half-century in IPL 2026 in the match against Chennai Super Kings, getting to the mark in 35 balls. The streak began at the start of this month, scoring 57 against the Punjab Kings at home, 55 against the Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur, 61 against the Sunrisers Hyderabad in Ahmedabad and an unbeaten 53 against the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens.

The knock took him past Kohli as he matched the IPL record for most consecutive fifties. Sehwag is the only other Indian in the list, having achieved it in 212, followed by Jos Buttler in 2018 and David Warner in 2019.

IPL 2026, GT vs CSK LIVE Score

The knock also took him to 600 runs this season. This is the second time in his IPL career he has scored 600 or more runs in a single season, the previous being in 2025, when he amassed 759 runs in 15 innings to win the Orange Cap. As it stands, the right-handed batter reclaimed the Orange Cap this season as well with his half-century knock, eclipsing his teammate Shubman Gill, who had scored a fifty himself.

Gujarat, who have already qualified for the playoffs, made an impressive start to the game against Chennai, who are still in the hunt for that final playoffs berth. The openers, Sudharsan and Gill, stitched a 125-run partnership in 74 balls.

The 2022 champions are looking to confirm a top-two finish with a win in their final game. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru are the only side yet to have confirmed it in this IPL season. However, a win against CSK entirely won't guarantee that. They need to win by a big margin to steer clear of third-placed Sunrisers Hyderabad, who also have 16 points from 13 matches, in terms of net run-rate.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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