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Most Balls Faced by a Batsman in IPL Powerplay: In the thrilling IPL 2026 season, a match took place on Friday between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Gujarat Titans (GT) that shook up not only the scoreboard but also the record books. Although Bengaluru successfully chased down a massive target of 206 runs in just 18.5 overs, the biggest talking point of the match was Gujarat's Sai Sudharsan, who set a rare record during the Powerplay.
Sai Sudharsan’s 'One Man Show' Against RCB in IPL 2026
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Typically, during the Powerplay (the first 6 overs), both openers rotate the strike; however, against Bengaluru, Sai Sudharsan demonstrated a mastery of the art of retaining the strike. Out of the total 36 balls bowled during the Powerplay, Sudharsan alone faced 29 balls.
During this period, he scored 46 runs, while his captain, Shubman Gill, at the other end, got the opportunity to face only 7 balls. This marks only the third instance in IPL history where a single batsman has faced 29 or more balls during the Powerplay.
Top 3 Batsmen with Most Balls Faced in IPL Powerplay History
This record of playing the most deliveries in the Powerplay and tiring out the opposition bowlers belongs to very few players. Let's take a look at the list of the top 3:
| Player | Runs (Balls) | Team vs Opponent | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Marsh | 60 (30) | LSG vs MI | Lucknow | 2025 |
| Shikhar Dhawan | 42 (29) | SRH vs MI | Wankhede | 2015 |
| Sai Sudharsan | 46 (29) | GT vs RCB | Bengaluru | 2026 |
Mitchell Marsh still sits at the top of this list, having amassed 60 runs against the Mumbai Indians in 2025 while facing the entire 5 overs (30 balls) himself. Meanwhile, Shikhar Dhawan was the first to achieve this feat back in 2015 at the Wankhede Stadium.
Also Read: Top 5 Flops Expensive Players in IPL 2026
Highest Individual Scores for Gujarat Titans in Powerplay
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Sai Sudharsan's innings not only earned a spot among rare IPL records but has also propelled him up the ranks within the Gujarat Titans' own history. The list of batsmen with the highest individual scores in the Powerplay for Gujarat now stands as follows:
- Wriddhiman Saha: 54 runs (vs Lucknow Super Giants, 2023)
- Jos Buttler: 47 runs (vs Delhi Capitals, 2026)
- Sai Sudharsan: 46 runs (vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru, 2026)
Also Read: IPL 2026: 3 Players to Watch Out For in the DC vs PBKS Match
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