NEW DELHI: If there is ever a list of the unluckiest dismissals in IPL history, Sai Sudharsan’s wicket in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2026 will surely feature near the very top.After Royal Challengers Bengaluru piled up a mammoth 254/5 against Gujarat Titans at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on Tuesday, the pressure was immense on GT openers Sudharsan and Shubman Gill to produce a flying start.Sudharsan began aggressively, smashing two boundaries in the opening over bowled by Jacob Duffy. He followed it up with another boundary when Duffy returned for his second over.But then came a bizarre moment that completely changed the mood.Duffy bowled a short-of-a-good-length delivery and Sudharsan stayed back before attempting a cut shot towards point. However, as he completed the stroke, the bat slipped out of his hands, flew behind him and bounced back onto the stumps.Sudharsan initially did not realise what had happened and had already started running. But as he turned around and saw the stumps disturbed, the GT opener was left stunned.The left-hander closed his eyes in frustration and disbelief before slowly walking back to the pavilion after one of the most unfortunate dismissals seen in IPL playoff history.WATCH: Sudharsan became only the second batter to be dismissed hit wicket in IPL playoffs/knockouts after Kusal Mendis, who suffered a similar dismissal for Gujarat Titans against Mumbai Indians in New Chandigarh last year.RCB tightened their grip on the contest immediately afterwards as Bhuvneshwar Kumar removed GT captain Gill cheaply in the next over, leaving Gujarat Titans reeling in the massive chase.Earlier, RCB captain Rajat Patidar had produced a sensational unbeaten 93 off just 33 balls to propel Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a record-breaking 254/5.Patidar saved his best for the knockout clash, hammering five fours and nine massive sixes to completely flatten the GT bowling attack.The RCB skipper was especially severe on Kulwant Khejroliya, taking 28 runs off one over during his breathtaking assault.Virat Kohli and Krunal Pandya also made valuable contributions with 43 runs each.
