Gujarat Titans’ campaign has largely been shaped by the chemistry between Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan at the top of the order, and former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has now thrown his weight behind the duo. Pathan’s latest praise came after the pair once again delivered in the biggest moments, steering Gujarat to victory in Qualifier 2 against Rajasthan Royals.
In the chase, Gill and Sudharsan produced a devastating 167-run opening stand while replying to a challenging target of 215. Gill struck the ball with authority, hammering 104 off 53 deliveries, whereas Sudharsan added a more explosive burst of 58 off just 32 balls. Their partnership absorbed the pressure of the knockout game and essentially took the match away from Rajasthan long before the final overs.
The impact of their top-order form has been consistent across the season. Both batters have already cleared the 700-run mark, with Gill sitting second in the Orange Cap race on 722 runs, and Sudharsan close behind on 710.
Irfan Pathan hails Gill-Sudharsan as IPL’s best opening partnership
Speaking on JioStar, Irfan Pathan labelled Gill and Sudharsan as the finest opening pair in IPL history. He pointed to the volume and quality of their big starts, highlighting that they have set benchmarks in the tournament for both 100-plus run openings and frequent half-century partnerships.
“Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan are the best batting pair in TATA IPL history. They hold the record for the most 100-run partnerships and the most 50-plus partnerships in the tournament. In T20 cricket, if you want a flying start, you want both of them at the top. They complement each other perfectly. One rotates the strike, the other finds the boundaries. Their understanding is remarkable,” Pathan said on JioStar.
How they punished Rajasthan’s tactics in Qualifier 2
Pathan also focused on how the batting duo dismantled Rajasthan’s bowling plans during Qualifier 2. He suggested that when the bowlers opted for short-pitched deliveries, Gill and Sudharsan turned it into scoring opportunities immediately, picking the right moments to cut and attack.
“If bowlers try short-pitched deliveries, they actually enjoy it. They are ready to play the cut shot and punish anything short. That is exactly what Nandre Burger and Jofra Archer did. They bowled short, and Gill and Sudharsan were waiting. Even when Yash Raj Punja came into the attack, he bowled slightly shorter lengths. Shubman Gill is not afraid to use his feet against both fast bowlers and spinners. He steps out, creates room, and hits over the top,” he added.
In Pathan’s view, the 167-run opening partnership was the defining turning point of the chase. With the early momentum fully under control, the Royals never truly regained the initiative.
“The opening partnership of 167 runs in just 77 balls was where Rajasthan Royals lost the game. That stand took the chase away from them completely,” Pathan said.
Consistency continues: record-breaking season in the making
The duo’s run of form is not new. Even after Gujarat Titans suffered an Eliminator loss to Mumbai Indians last season, Gill and Sudharsan still combined for 912 runs in 15 innings—an IPL 2025 record for the highest partnership total across innings. Sudharsan also finished that campaign as the Orange Cap winner.
This season, they have already piled up 886 runs together in 15 innings. To break their own partnership record, they now need just 27 more runs in the final.
