In the middle of a high-octane run chase during the IPL 2026 Qualifier 2 showdown between Gujarat Titans (GT) and Rajasthan Royals (RR), an unexpected name began dominating the national trending charts on social media: Fevicol.
While the iconic adhesive brand has nothing to do with professional cricket, its sudden digital resurgence left non-viewers baffled, reminding everyone of its classic commercial slogan, “Yeh Fevicol ka mazboot jod hai, tootega nahi” (This is Fevicol’s strong bond, it won’t break). The corporate giant trended entirely because of a bizarre, record-breaking piece of bad luck suffered by GT opening batter Sai Sudharsan.
The Unwanted Trilogy: With his latest dismissal, Sai Sudharsan has now been out hit-wicket three times across his young IPL career. This rare, unintentional feat draws him level with global T20 veterans Andre Russell and Shoaib Malik for the most hit-wicket dismissals in men’s short-format history.
The Coincidence: Sudharsan’s Disastrous Double Playoff Deja-Vu
The viral phenomenon erupted in the 13th over of Gujarat’s chase of a daunting 215-run target set by Rajasthan Royals. The opening pair of Sai Sudharsan and captain Shubman Gill had utterly dismantled the RR bowling unit, putting up a flawless 167-run opening stand off just 77 balls. Gujarat was effectively cruising toward a massive 10-wicket victory when Sudharsan, batting beautifully on 58 off 32 deliveries, tried to slice a low full-toss from bowler Brijesh Sharma behind square on the off-side.
While completing his aggressive swing, the willow completely slipped from the southpaw’s grip, flying over his shoulder and crashing directly backward into his own stumps. The sheer absurdity of the dismissal gave the entire cricket community an instant case of bitter deja-vu. Just days prior, during the Qualifier 1 playoff match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Dharamshala, Sudharsan was sent back to the dugout in an identical fashion when his bat slipped from his fingers while facing Jacob Duffy, bouncing right onto his stumps.
On-Air Commentary and the Birth of a Viral Meme
Ravi Shastri’s Live Plea: The unbelievable occurrence of a top-tier opening batter getting out hit-wicket in consecutive high-stakes playoff games left professional commentators stunned. On live television, veteran commentator Ravi Shastri couldn’t hide his amazement, exclaiming on air: “Where is the Fevicol? Where is the glue?”
The Internet Explodes: Shastri’s direct on-air reference acted as a green light for internet creators. Within minutes, Twitter (now X) and Instagram were flooded with morphed images showing Fevicol bottles taped to Sudharsan’s batting gloves, alongside classic clips of the brand’s adhesive commercials.
Sudharsan Finds the Humor: Speaking to the official broadcasters after the match, the GT opener found the funny side of his unusual streak. “I think I should try something. I am going to try some grip tech now, honestly I don’t have an answer of how it happened,” Sudharsan joked, noting that this time he managed to hit the stumps straight on compared to the spinning ball against RCB.
Despite the freak accident putting an end to his brilliant 58-run knock, the bizarre dismissal did not halt Gujarat’s incredible playoff momentum. Skipper Shubman Gill anchored the rest of the chase with a majestic, 53-ball century (104 runs), ensuring the Titans completed the highest successful run chase in IPL playoff history by reaching 219/3 in just 18.4 overs. While Gujarat officially punches their ticket to Ahmedabad to face RCB in the grand finale, cricket fans will undoubtedly be watching Sudharsan’s hands to see if he updates his equipment choices before taking his guard.