Bangar highlights role of prayers, blessings of Sudharsan's father in opener's success
Mumbai, May 25
Ahead of Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Qualifier one clash against Gujarat Titans, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar spoke on the role of Sai Sudharsan's father in the opening batter's success, saying how his prayers and blessings have made the opener the run-scoring star he is today for the Titans.
Sudharsan, the current Orange Cap holder, will be a prized wicket for RCB during the Qualifier One clash at Dharamsala. This season, he has made 638 runs in 14 innings at an average of 49.07 and a strike rate of 157.92, with a century and seven fifties and a best score of 100.
Speaking on JioHotstar's 'Champions Waali Commentary', JioStar expert Bangar spoke about how Sai's father, R Bharadwaj, was also a sportsman himself and prays before every ball with his eyes closed.
"If you watch Sai Sudharsan's father, R Bharadwaj, during the match, you will notice one thing that he always prays for his son. When your son is playing at this level, prayer and encouragement are what a player truly needs. And here, we see that connection. His father sits there, eyes closed, praying before every ball, then thanking God afterwards," he said.
"Only a father can understand those emotions. And because he himself was a sportsman, he can relate even more to what goes on in the mind of a player during a game. If you look at his eyes before each delivery, you can see the prayers continuing. These are the blessings of parents that take you far. And Sai Sudharsan has emerged as a star," he added.
Sudharsan has been unstoppable for GT in the knockouts with 219 runs in three innings at an average of 96 and a strike rate of over 172, with two fifties, including a knock of 96 in the 2023 final against Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is what makes Indian cricket special. Not just the runs and records, but the family stories behind every player. Sai's father sitting with closed eyes before every ball... that's pure love. But having said that, RCB bowlers need to find a way past him in Qualifier 1. Prayers or not, 600+ runs deserve full respect.
It's heartwarming but also a little concerning how much emotional burden we put on our children through prayer and expectation. Sai is performing brilliantly, no doubt, but we should also remember that the pressure to live up to a father's prayers can be immense. Hope the team management is giving him mental space too.
Bangar sahab is spot on. In our desi culture, blessings are everything. My mother still lights a diya before every India match. Sai has that solid foundation - a father who was a sportsman himself, who understands the grind. No wonder he looks so composed even against top bowlers. Gujarat Titans are lucky to have him.
Nice sentiment, but let's not reduce his success to just prayers. Sai has worked incredibly hard - his technique, his fitness, his ability to read spinners. The father's love is a beautiful backdrop, but the credit should go to the player's own dedication. Hope he scores a century in Dharamsala and makes this story even sweeter. 🇮🇳
As someone who watches IPL from abroad, I find this Indian perspective fascinating. In Western sports, we rarely hear about parental blessings on camera. It adds a
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