Sai Sudharsan hit-wicket: Was he actually out? Anil Chaudhary explains the wrong decision
The former Indian umpire, Anil Chaudhary, has explained whether Sai Sudharsan was actually out during the RCB vs GT clash of the IPL 2026 first qualifier in Dharamsala.
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One of the most controversial aspects during the first qualifier of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 clash between the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association in Dharamsala was Sai Sudharsan’s hit-wicket dismissal, which has been called a wrong decision by the former Indian umpire, Anil Chaudhary.
The Bengaluru franchise won the clash by 92 runs after they bundled out the Shubman Gill-led side for 162 runs in 19.3 overs, having posted the highest total in the Playoffs history of 254 runs for the loss of five wickets, thanks to Rajat Patidar’s unbeaten 93 runs off 33 balls.
How was Sai Sudharsan given out hit-wicket? The bat-slip incident at Dharamsala explained
On the second delivery of the third over, the GT opener, Sai Sudharsan, picked the length from Jacob Duffy and swiveled across to hammer the pull past the mid-wicket region for a boundary.
The second ball was short of a good length, angling across the left-handed batter as the Chennai-born stayed back on the rasping cut and placed it past the point region. But as he completed the shot, the ball slipped out of the bat and fell behind him before bouncing onto the stumps.
Sudharsan hadn’t seen it and was already running before turning back to see the bat crashing into the stumps as he made his way back to the dressing room for 14 runs off nine balls.
What does the hit-wicket rule say? Why Anil Chaudhary calls the decision wrong
Anil Chaudhary has explained how MCC Law 35.2 on hit-wicket dismissals would have ruled Sudharsan not out during the first qualifier in Dharamsala.
Watch Anil Chaudhary's explanation here:
“Hello, everyone. There is a video coming which is related to the hit-wicket where the batter has completed his shot and his cap was falling on the stumps, and the bails had come off.” Anil Chaudhary expressed in a video.
“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 the stumps, which means he will not be out.” The former Indian umpire explained.
In these circumstances, the ball is called a dead ball, and the exact incident happened with Sudharsan, as the ball had already crossed the boundary by the time his bat fell on the stumps.
How does the hit-wicket dismissal affect GT's IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 chase vs RCB?
Sudharsan’s wicket was massive for the RCB side as he remains the leading run-getter of the IPL 2026. The southpaw has smashed 652 runs in 15 innings at an average of 46.57 and a strike rate of 157.86, thanks to seven half-centuries and one century at the best score of 100 runs against the Bengaluru side at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
See Also: Virat Kohli shocked at Rajat Patidar's superb six in RCB vs GT IPL 2026 Q1
After his dismissal, GT fell like a pack of cards and was soon restricted to 88/8 in 11.2 overs. Only Sudharsan and Jos Buttler crossed the double-figure mark among the top seven batters. It was a poor batting display from the 2022 champions, who will now head to New Chandigarh for the second qualifier on May 29.
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