In preparation for the IPL 2026 final, the opener of the Gujarat Titans team, Sai Sudarshan, gained prominence for an unusual purpose. In the practice session before the final match against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru team, the player could be seen spraying something mysterious onto his gloves and bat. However, it became clear why he had done that. Namely, Sudarshan took additional measures after facing two hit-wicket dismissals within two playoff games. The grip enhancement technique, including spraying and hand taping, would help him avoid bat slippage during the most critical game of the season.

Following the victory against Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2, Sudharsan joked during the post-match presentation, as he said, "I'm going to try some grip tech now and just bat a few balls and see how it is."

Sudarshan made that decision because he faced an unlucky streak of hits in the playoff games of this year's IPL competition. Even though he is one of the crucial batters in the Gujarat Titans, he still managed to set up the IPL record of the number of such incidents, making a rare dismissal happen to him twice in a row.

How Two Freak Dismissals Led Sai Sudarshan To Change His Preparation

Hit-Wicket In Qualifier 1 Against RCB

The first incident occurred during Qualifier 1 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Dharamsala. Gujarat Titans were chasing a huge target of 255 and needed a strong start. In the third over, Sudarshan attempted an attacking square cut off Jacob Duffy. The shot was perfectly timed and raced away for four.

However, the follow-through produced an unexpected twist. The bat slipped completely out of his hands, bounced on the pitch and spun into the stumps. The bails came off while Sudarshan had already started running. He was dismissed hit-wicket for 14 runs from 9 balls. The early setback triggered a major collapse at the top of the order and hurt Gujarat's chase.

Hit-Wicket In Qualifier 2 Against RR

The second incident arrived in Qualifier 2 against Rajasthan Royals. This time, Sudarshan was in control and helped Gujarat dominate a steep chase of 215. Alongside captain Shubman Gill, he had powered the Titans to 156 without loss by the 13th over.

Then came another bizarre moment. Facing spinner Brijesh Sharma, Sudarshan tried to guide a low full toss behind square. During the shot, the bat again slipped from his hands and flew backward into the stumps. The dismissal stunned players and fans alike. It also created an unwanted piece of history, making him the first batter in IPL history to be dismissed hit-wicket twice in the same season and in consecutive matches.

Precautions Before The Final

Following the second incident, Sudarshan openly acknowledged the problem. After Gujarat's win over Rajasthan Royals, he joked that his bat had started feeling like his enemy. More importantly, he revealed that he planned to explore technical solutions and improve his grip before the final.

As a result, he arrived for the IPL 2026 final with a clear plan. During preparations at the Narendra Modi Stadium, he was seen heavily taping his hands and applying an anti-slip adhesive spray to both his gloves and bat handle. The goal was to reduce the impact of sweat, increase friction and ensure a firmer hold during powerful swings. After two extraordinary dismissals in back-to-back playoff matches, the grip-enhancing spray became Sudarshan's final line of defence against another costly accident.