GT focused on top-two finish, not net run-rate: Sudharsan

Gujarat Titans' B Sai Sudharsan prioritises securing a top-two finish in the IPL over net run-rate, focusing on a win against CSK in their final league match.

Gujarat Titans may have faced criticism for their conservative batting approach but their opener B Sai Sudharsan said they are focused on sealing a top-two finish rather than obsessing over net run-rate going into their final IPL league match here on Thursday.

GT have already secured a playoff berth and are currently placed second on the points table, but a victory against already-eliminated CSK would significantly strengthen their chances of finishing in the top two, providing them two shots at reaching the final.

''The first important thing is to play good cricket and win tomorrow,'' Sudharsan told reporters on the eve of the game.

''We are not in a position to think about winning by a very big margin or getting a very big win. It is about again doing the right things which we have been doing and first getting a victory.

''If we are in that position, yes, as every team we would love to close it as smoothly as possible or give ourselves the best opportunity to be in the top two,'' he added.

Sudharsan has been one of the pillars of Gujarat's batting this season, scoring 554 runs at an impressive strike-rate of 157.83.

GT, however, are coming into the contest after a disappointing outing in the field against Kolkata Knight Riders, where they dropped multiple catches during a 29-run defeat.

Sudharsan said the side has addressed the issue internally and stressed that fielding was largely about attitude and intent.

''As a team we have done good fielding over the tournament. It is just one match where we dropped a few catches,'' he said.

''We had a conversation. It is all about attitude, wanting to make a difference in the game. We spoke about the attitude and intent as a fielding group and I think it will reflect well in this game.''.

The much-anticipated 300-run team total remained untouched in IPL 2026, falling well short of pre-season hype.

Reflecting on the reasons, the stylish left-hander said: ''There can be two things. One, I feel wherever we go, the wickets have been little difficult. It's not have been so straightforward as a very good batting surface.

''One more thing is it's not so easy to score 300 and as a batting unit, everybody have to just fire from ball one. That's when 300 is possible.

''Also, as a bowling unit who is bowling against, for example, if they are going against 300, it is very difficult to bowl that bad also to be honest. I am not trying to say anything wrong here but the bowlers have to bowl really bad for any team to go 300.''