Shubman Gill had a hard time putting into words what Sai Sudharsan did twice in a row, after the Gujarat Titans pulled off a thumping win over the Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2. Gill described the dismissals as something he hadn’t seen before, even in a season packed with unusual moments. Sudharsan’s wicket again came in a freak hit-wicket fashion for the second consecutive game, with the batter losing control of his bat while trying to play a shot and somehow disturbing the stumps in the strangest of ways.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything. No one’s seen anything like that—two matches, back to back in a row. The way he got out,” Gill said after the match, reflecting on how the incident has become a talking point well beyond the boundary ropes.
The Gujarat Titans captain also added a light-hearted twist, joking that he may have to copy a suggestion that had been doing the rounds on social media in order to prevent a repeat. He said he had come across a video online about taping his hand and hinted he could consider doing the same in the next game, drawing a laugh even as the team moved on from the bizarre dismissal.
What mattered most, though, was that Sudharsan still played a decisive role despite the unusual way his innings ended. In the chase of 215, Gill and Sudharsan completely dismantled the Royals’ bowling attack, producing a stunning 167-run opening stand off only 77 deliveries—the highest partnership in IPL playoff history. Their approach left Rajasthan chasing from the start, and once the tempo was set, it never truly shifted back in favour of the fielding side.
Gill struck the most dominant note, smashing 104 off 53 balls to deliver one of the standout knocks of the season. His innings featured 15 fours and three sixes, and it also brought up the fastest century in IPL playoff history. Sudharsan contributed with equal intent, racing to 58 off 32 balls, and while his second straight hit-wicket dismissal became the headline moment, it did little to interrupt the damage already done by the opening pair.
Gill also pointed to the chemistry between him and Sudharsan as a key strength for Gujarat Titans this season. He said their understanding is clear while batting together, with communication and role clarity helping them execute plans against different bowling combinations. “I think we complement each other very well. We understand each other’s game very well. And when we are batting out there, our communication is very good. We know one of us has to take down one of the bowlers,” Gill explained.
He further described the mindset he had while building his innings, suggesting the work in his preparation translated into a comfortable rhythm at the crease. “I was in kind of a zone where I was only looking at the gaps and looking at the bowlers and looking at where I want to hit the ball. I wasn’t looking to hit the ball too hard,” Gill said, underlining that his timing and shot selection were driving the momentum rather than brute force.
Even with the final target of 215, Gujarat Titans did not arrive at it expecting anything quite that steep for most of the innings. Rajasthan Royals had looked on course to end somewhere around 180 to 190 at one stage, but a late surge changed the complexion of the chase. Donovan Ferreira delivered a brutal assault on Rashid Khan in the final over, helping the Royals add 27 runs and finish on 214/6.
Earlier in the evening, the match had already carried plenty of drama, with teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi once again grabbing the spotlight. After Rajasthan lost Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel within the first two overs, Sooryavanshi responded by striking a sensational 96 off 47 balls, keeping the Royals’ momentum alive. Still, despite his outstanding effort, it was not enough once Gill and Sudharsan launched their chase.
Gujarat Titans ultimately completed the highest successful chase in franchise history, securing their spot in the IPL 2026 final. They will now take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a blockbuster title clash at Ahmedabad, with Gill and Sudharsan’s record-setting partnership and blistering chase forming the foundation—along with the strange, back-to-back hit-wicket dismissals that ensured Sudharsan’s name stayed in the headlines well after the game ended.
