'Several areas where I need to improve as a T20 batter' - Sai Sudharsan hopes to iron out flaws despite stunning IPL 2025 campaign

Published - 31 May 2025, 13:49 IST | Updated - 31 May 2025, 13:59 IST

Gujarat Titans' (GT) batting prodigy, Sai Sudharsan, said that he isn’t overly worried about selection for India’s T20 team ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup. Instead, he wants to iron out his flaws and look to improve as a batter in the shortest format.

Sudharsan finished his IPL 2025 (Indian Premier League) campaign with a magnificent 49-ball 80 against Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur (New Chandigarh) on Friday, May 30. The southpaw gave Gujarat hopes of chasing down a daunting 229-run target. However, once he was dismissed, it was always going to be difficult for the former champions, and they eventually finished on 208/6.

Sudharsan currently holds the Orange Cap, amassing 759 runs from 15 innings at an average of 54.21 and a strike rate of 156.18. The 23-year-old became the youngest cricketer to score 700-plus runs in an IPL edition. However, he is not willing to celebrate the staggering success too much, and instead, focuses on the things that can help him become a better batter in T20 cricket before seriously considering a national team call-up.

“Playing for the country is obviously a dream for everyone, and I would love to do that. But right now, I’m not thinking along those lines. Looking at the season, there are several areas where I need to improve as a T20 batter,” Sudharsan said in the post-match press conference.

“There are many facets of the game I should work on before I return to T20s, so my focus is currently on that. Of course, when the opportunity comes, I will give my best for the country,” Sudharsan further added.

Sai Sudharsan wasn't picked on his IPL form: Ajit Agarkar

Only four players - David Warner (848 runs in 2016), Jos Buttler (863 runs in 2022), Shubman Gill (890 runs in 2023), and Virat Kohli (973 runs in 2016) - have scored more runs than Sai Sudharsan in a single IPL season.

Sudharsan will now shift his focus to red-ball cricket as he has been named in India's 18-man squad for the highly-anticipated five-match Test tour of England, starting on June 20. The left-handed batter has played 29 first-class matches, scoring 1,957 runs at an average of 39.93.