Sai Sudharsan Faces Rib Injury, Expected Recovery Ahead of IPL 2026

Injury Update on Sai Sudharsan

New Delhi, January 2: Tamil Nadu cricketer Sai Sudharsan suffered a rib fracture during the Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh in Ahmedabad on December 26, 2025.

Currently, he is receiving rehabilitation at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE) and is anticipated to be sidelined for approximately six weeks.

The injury occurred while he was diving for a run during his innings, where he scored a half-century. Consequently, he missed the subsequent matches against Karnataka and Jharkhand.

As reported by ESPNcricinfo, Sudharsan arrived at the CoE in Bengaluru on December 29, where scans indicated "a slender, undisplaced fracture of the anterior cortex of the right seventh rib."

His recovery timeline suggests he may return just in time for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, where he is set to play for the Gujarat Titans.

According to a CoE report, "Sai is currently engaged in lower-body strength and conditioning exercises with protective measures for the injured rib to aid in healing. He has shown positive responses to the program. Upper-body training will commence once acute symptoms subside in the next week, after which he will gradually transition into a structured upper-body strength and conditioning regimen," as stated by ESPNcricinfo.

Sudharsan made his Test debut in 2025, participating in six matches and accumulating 302 runs at an average of 27.45. He has also played three ODIs, scoring 127 runs at an impressive average of 63.50, along with one T20I appearance.

Currently, Tamil Nadu stands sixth in their group with one victory out of four matches. They have three remaining group fixtures against Rajasthan, Tripura, and Kerala.