Everything about Gujarat Titans’ season has revolved around the opening pair of Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan, and now former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has joined the growing list of admirers of the duo.The pair once again showcased their brilliance in Qualifier 2 against Rajasthan Royals, stitching together a match-winning 167-run opening stand while chasing a daunting target of 215. Gill led the charge with a sublime 104 off 53 balls, while Sudharsan provided explosive support with 58 off just 32 deliveries. Their partnership completely absorbed the pressure of the knockout contest and effectively sealed the result long before the final overs.Both batters have crossed the 700-run mark this season, with Gill currently occupying second place in the Orange Cap standings with 722 runs, while Sudharsan is close behind with 710 runs.Speaking on JioStar, Irfan Pathan hailed Gill and Sudharsan as the greatest opening pair in IPL history.“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,” Irfan Pathan said on JioStar.Pathan also highlighted how the pair punished Rajasthan Royals’ bowling plans in Qualifier 2.“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. According to Pathan, the 167-run stand proved to be the decisive moment of the match – “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.”Their consistency is not new. Last season, despite Gujarat Titans’ Eliminator defeat to Mumbai Indians, Gill and Sudharsan combined for 912 runs in 15 innings, the highest partnership aggregate of IPL 2025. Sudharsan also finished that campaign as the Orange Cap winner. This season, the duo has already amassed 886 runs together in 15 innings and needs just 27 more runs in the final to surpass their own record.
