Sai Sudharsan Likely to Miss Ranji Trophy Games After Rib Fracture, IPL 2026 Return in Focus

New Delhi, Jan 2: Young India batter Sai Sudharsan could be sidelined for more than a month after sustaining a rib fracture during a recent Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) match, according to media reports quoting BCCI sources on Friday (January 2).

The 24-year-old left-handed batter suffered the injury while playing for Tamil Nadu against Madhya Pradesh in Ahmedabad.

Sudharsan fractured the anterior cortex of the seventh right rib while completing a diving run during the match. Although he is not currently part of India's white-ball set-up, the injury comes at a crucial time in his domestic season and is likely to rule him out of Tamil Nadu's remaining Ranji Trophy fixtures.

According to sources, Sudharsan reported to the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE)

in Bengaluru on December 29, where scans confirmed "a slender, undisplaced fracture of the anterior cortex of the right seventh rib. " Interestingly, the injury occurred at the same spot where he had earlier taken a blow during a net session earlier in the tournament, potentially aggravating the damage.

A CoE report on his rehabilitation stated that Sudharsan has already begun lower-body strength and conditioning work, with protective measures in place to safeguard the injured rib.

"Sai is undertaking lower-body strength and conditioning work with appropriate protection to the injured rib to facilitate healing, and he has responded well to the program," the report noted.

The medical team plans to introduce upper-body training once the acute symptoms subside over the next 7-10 days. Following that, Sudharsan will be gradually progressed into a structured upper-body strength and conditioning routine, depending on pain management and healing response.

It is understood that rib fractures of this nature typically require six to eight weeks for full recovery. While this timeline makes his participation in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season unlikely, there is optimism that Sudharsan could regain fitness in time for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, where he is expected to turn out for the Gujarat Titans.

The setback comes amid a challenging phase in Sudharsan's red-ball career. The left-handed batter has endured a difficult run in Test cricket, failing to convert starts in nine of his 11 innings so far. With his recovery now under close watch, the focus will be on ensuring a complete rehabilitation to avoid long-term complications.

For Sudharsan, the coming weeks will be critical-not just in terms of physical recovery, but also in rebuilding momentum ahead of the IPL, which remains a key platform in his bid to cement a stronger case for national selection.