India have already finalized their squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026, and they now have five T20Is against New Zealand before the showpiece event at home and in Sri Lanka.
However, several India internationals are busy plying their trade in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26.
Sai Sudharsan Sidelined for 6-8 Weeks with Rib Fracture, Ruled Out of Remainder of Vijay Hazare Trophy
India and Tamil Nadu suffered a major blow as Sai Sudharsan has been ruled out of cricket for six to eight weeks after suffering a rib fracture during the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26. This situation is also seen as a significant blow for the Gujarat Titans as well.
With the latest blow, Sudharsan was ruled out of the rest of the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26, where the Tamil Nadu cricket team currently sits sixth in their group with just one win from four matches. However, they still have three important games left against Rajasthan, Tripura, and Kerala to progress further in India’s premier 50-over tournament.
Injury Details: How the Fracture Occurred
Sai Sudharsan picked up the injury during Tamil Nadu’s Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh in Ahmedabad. He hurt his rib while pushing hard for a run and diving to make his ground, but still showed grit by battling on to hit a fighting half-century in the match.
However, the impact soon caught up with him, forcing him to sit out the next two matches against Karnataka and Jharkhand. As reported by ESPNCricinfo, Sudharsan reported to the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru on December 29 after the discomfort continued.
Later, medical scans confirmed “a slender, undisplaced fracture of the anterior cortex of the right seventh rib.” The COE medical staff hinted that the left-handed batter’s this area was likely weakened by a blow that the India star took during a net session earlier in the tournament.
Recovery Timeline and Rehabilitation Process
A typical rib stress fracture usually needs six to eight weeks for full recovery. This means Sudharsan is expected to miss the remainder of Tamil Nadu’s Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 campaign, but he should be fit in time for the upcoming IPL 2026, where he is a key player for the Gujarat Titans.
Sai’s rehabilitation has already begun. He is focusing on lower-body fitness and conditioning while keeping the injured rib protected. The recovery process has shown positive signs so far. Upper-body training will only be added once the pain reduces over the next week or so.
The BCCI CoE report reads, “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. Upper-body training will be introduced once acute symptoms settle over the next seven to ten days, following which he will be gradually progressed into a structured upper-body strength and conditioning program.”
Sai Sudharsan’s India numbers
Sudharsan is one of India’s promising young batters across formats. The left-handed batter made his Test debut in 2025 and has so far played six matches, scoring 302 runs at an average of 27.45. He has also represented India in three ODIs and one T20I so far, but lost his place due to inconsistent performance. He has 127 ODI runs but didn’t get the chance to bat in his only T20I.