Sai Sudharsan Anil Choudhary. Image Credits: AP/X
Sai Sudharsan’s dismissal in the recent Gujarat Titans (GT) versus Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Qualifier 1 of the IPL 2026 has been the talk of the town. Sai Sudharsan was dismissed hit wicket despite hitting the ball to the boundary, starting the GT collapse in the chase.
This game was played at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala on May 26, 2026, and Gujarat Titans (GT) captain Shubman Gill had won the toss and chosen to bowl first. RCB's batters had a strategy from the beginning since they understood they needed to score a high total to avoid that threat.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru posts record total in IPL playoffs
Rajat Patidar's knock proved to be the difference, despite Virat Kohli (43) giving a good start. His 93* in 33 balls had nine sixes and five fours, and thanks to Jitesh Sharma (15* in 5 balls) and Krunal Pandya (43), RCB scored the highest score in an IPL playoff match, 254/5, in 20 overs.
Jos Buttler (29) and Sai Sudharsan (14) were strong for a while, but GT's innings never took off. After losing a lot of wickets, GT scored 162 thanks to Rahul Tewatia's 68. Jacob Duffy amassed 3/39 for RCB, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rasikh Salam, and Krunal Pandya each claimed two wickets.
RCB qualified to the IPL 2026 final, which will take place in Ahmedabad on May 31, after winning by 92 runs.
Anil Chaudhary speaks about Sai Sudharsan’s hit-wicket dismissal and calls it unfair
Sai Sudharsan, the GT opener, took the length from Jacob Duffy on the second delivery of the third over and turned to hammer the pull across the mid-wicket area for a boundary.
The left-handed batter hit a cut shot and placed it past the point area while the second ball, which was short of a fair length, angled over him. However, the ball slid out of the bat as he finished the shot, fell behind him, and then bounced onto the stumps.
When Sudharsan turned around to watch the bat smashing into the stumps on his way back to the dressing room for 14 runs off nine balls, he had not noticed it and was already sprinting.
Also Read: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's Record In Knockout Matches Before RR Vs SRH IPL Eliminator
Meanwhile, a video went viral on social media, in which former international umpire Anil Chaudhary is seen explaining the hit-wicket dismissal laws and why the dismissal was unfair.
“Hello, everyone. There is a video coming which is related to the hit wicket where the batter has completed his shot and his cap has fallen on the stumps and the bails have come off. According to the law 35.2, which is related to the hit-wicket dismissal, if any batter-related material falls on the stumps after he completes a shot, then it won’t be a hit-wicket.
Even in this one, he has completed his shot, and then the material has fallen on the stumps, which means he will not be out," Chaudhary said in the video.
Watch the video below:
Fact Check: What the actual hit-wicket law says, and Anil Chaudhary’s video is being used wrongly
However, as soon as the video went viral, several of the X users pointed out that Anil Chaudhary’s video about the hit-wicket dismissal was not related to Sai Sudarsan’s incident in Qualifier 1. But it was in reply to a fan question about a different dismissal.
In fact, this is what MCC rules say about 35.1 Out Hit Wicket: the batter is out when:
35.1.1- A batsman is out hit wicket if the stumps are dislodged by the batsman or his bat while the ball is played and the bowler is in position to bowl.
35.1.1.1- When preparing to play the ball or while the ball is in play,
35.1.1.2- When running for the first run immediately after playing the ball or hitting the ball,
35.1.1.3- When running for the first run, if the ball has not been attempted, in the opinion of the umpire, this umpire has immediately after the batsman has borne the ball.
35.1.1.4—When attempting a second or repeat shot to protect the stumps under Law 34.3 (a law where the ball has come in contact with the bat twice).
35.1.2- If the batsman knocks down the stumps in any of the ways in the specified rules
29.1.1.2 to 29.1.1.1.2 before the bowler is in position to bowl, the umpire shall declare a dead ball.
Gujarat Titans get one more chance to qualify for the IPL 2026 final
Despite losing the qualifier 1 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Gujarat Titans will have another chance to qualify for the IPL 2026 finals. They will now face the winner of the IPL 2026 Eliminator game between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2.
The Eliminator game will be played on May 27, 2026, in Mullanpur, and Qualifier 2 will be played on May 29 in Mullanpur as well. On the other hand, RCB has qualified for the final, to be played in Ahmedabad on May 31.
Also Read: SRH’s Batting Brutality Meets RR’s Fearless Young Instinct In IPL Eliminator
