Former India wicketkeeper-batter Ambati Rayudu has put forward a striking selection idea for the 2028 T20 World Cup, arguing that Gujarat Titans openers Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan should be at the top of India’s batting order. Rayudu’s comments come as the current IPL is throwing up standout performances, increasing the difficulty of finalising a World Cup mix well ahead of time.
Key takeaways
- Ambati Rayudu believes Gill and Sai Sudharsan are the right batting-opening combination for India at the 2028 T20 World Cup.
- Rayudu points to the similarity of Australia and New Zealand conditions to the way the pair is currently succeeding in the IPL.
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, a 15-year-old, has scored 776 runs across 16 matches in the ongoing season.
- Gill and Sudharsan have accumulated 885 runs together in IPL 2026, sitting 54 short of the opening-pair record of 939 set by Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.
- Tom Moody warned that IPL form must be viewed alongside the higher intensity and pressure of international cricket and World Cup games.
Rayudu’s case for Gill and Sudharsan as India’s World Cup openers
Rayudu said that the current IPL is making it difficult for selectors to make clear calls, mainly because multiple players have produced high-impact displays. He highlighted that, beyond the headline names, there are several performers who have been difficult to ignore, including Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, all of whom have shown steady output.
At the same time, Rayudu singled out a new-age talent: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The 15-year-old has emerged as one of the season’s most eye-catching contributors, piling up 776 runs in 16 appearances. For Rayudu, that kind of form underlines how quickly the talent pipeline is evolving, but it also raises the stakes for selection decisions.
When it came to his preferred opening pair for the 2028 World Cup, Rayudu leaned heavily toward Gujarat Titans’ top order. He argued that Gill and Sudharsan are not just performing together, but are also suited to the kind of challenges likely to come in Australia and New Zealand. Rayudu’s view is that their batting approach fits the pace and bounce profile often found in those conditions, which can be crucial for openers in T20 cricket.
Rayudu also stressed the ease with which both batters are currently operating. He suggested that watching them in the IPL gives a strong indication they could handle the travel and conditions of the 2028 World Cup environment, where early overs and the ability to capitalise on powerplay momentum matter immensely.
In his remarks, Rayudu said he would be surprised if both Gill and Sudharsan do not end up going to Australia for such a tournament, adding that their complementary skillsets make them a particularly strong option. He further explained that the partnership is built on familiarity—both batters understand each other’s game well—and that this combination can provide an added advantage when conditions vary across venues and matchups.
Form, records and the reality check from international cricket
Gill and Sudharsan’s argument is strengthened by their run partnership this season. Together they have amassed 885 runs in IPL 2026. Rayudu noted that the tally places them just 54 runs away from overtaking the IPL record for the highest total by an opening pair—939 runs jointly held by Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.
However, the selection picture is not straightforward. It was also recalled that Gill had been dropped from India’s T20I squad for the series against New Zealand. Later, he was left out of India’s 2026 T20 World Cup squad shortly before the IPL began, highlighting how quickly international selections can change even when a player is producing strong domestic franchise output.
That contrast led to caution from former Australia batter Tom Moody. Moody underlined that the competition at the international level is exceptionally deep, and that the pressure of World Cup cricket is a different challenge altogether. He said that while the strength of squads is phenomenal, the IPL can sometimes distract people from the bigger picture, because international cricket operates at another level.
Moody also pointed out that performances in the IPL can influence selection, but the decision-making framework is broader than one competition alone. He noted that strong IPL showings can help a player earn opportunities, referencing how good league form can even lead to consideration for Test cricket selection.
