Indian cricket fans are already waiting for the comeback of Shreyas Iyer, who is recovering from a rib injury sustained during the Australia tour. Now, a similar injury scare has emerged for another Indian batsman. Young Test hopeful Sai Sudharsan has suffered a rib injury and has been ruled out of the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy.

How did Sai Sudharsan get injured?

According to a PTI report, Sai Sudharsan picked up the rib injury during the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The left-handed batsman, who represents Tamil Nadu, last played against Madhya Pradesh, where he scored a fighting half-century.

However, during that innings, Sudharsan complained of pain while running between the wickets. It later emerged that he had been struck on the ribs by a ball during a practice session a few days earlier. Though he continued to play at the time, the injury has since worsened.

Admitted to BCCI Centre of Excellence

Medical assessments revealed that the injury was more serious than initially thought. As a result, Sudharsan has been admitted to the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, where he is currently undergoing treatment and rehabilitation under the supervision of the BCCI medical team.

He is expected to be out of action for the next few weeks, effectively ruling him out of the remainder of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Will this affect Team India?

At present, India does not have any Test matches scheduled, so Sudharsan will not miss international fixtures in the immediate future. However, his recovery timeline will be closely monitored, especially with the IPL coming up.

IPL 2026 return in focus

The biggest concern for fans and franchises is Sudharsan’s availability for IPL 2026, which is scheduled to begin in late March. Sudharsan is an important member of the Gujarat Titans, and his form at the top of the order has been crucial for the franchise in recent seasons.

If his rehabilitation progresses smoothly, there is optimism that he could return in time for the IPL. However, given the nature of rib injuries—similar to what Shreyas Iyer faced—his comeback will depend on how quickly he regains full fitness without risking a relapse.