Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan dominated the Rajasthan Royals bowlers in the Qualifier 2 clash as the Gujarat Titans openers once again proved why they are regarded as one of the most dominant partnerships the IPL has ever seen. With a breathtaking opening stand of 167 runs from just 77 balls. Their explosive partnership laid the foundation for a comfortable chase of 215 and secured Gujarat’s place in the IPL 2026 final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Irfan Pathan on Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan’s partnership
Their performance also earned high praise from former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan, who believes Gill and Sudharsan have now set a new benchmark for opening pairs in IPL history. As per Pathan, the numbers speak for themselves. Time and again, the duo has provided Gujarat with flying starts, combined stability with aggression, and delivered in the biggest moments. Their latest partnership was another reminder of why opposition teams have struggled to find answers, as they turned a daunting chase into a one-sided contest and ended Rajasthan’s title hopes emphatically.
“Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan are the best batting pair in IPL history. They hold the record for the most 100-run partnerships and the most 50-plus partnerships in the tournament,” Pathan told JioStar.
“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,” he said.
The former India all-rounder also pointed out how Gill and Sudharsan made the Rajasthan Royals pay for their mistakes in the power play. Pathan further said that the Royals’ decision to persist with short-pitched deliveries only helped the Gujarat openers settle into their rhythm, allowing them to dominate the bowlers and take control of the chase from the very beginning.
“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,” the former all-rounder said.
Pathan on Gill’s fearless intent
Pathan also highlighted Gill’s fearless intent at the crease, noting how the Gujarat captain consistently put the bowlers under pressure by attacking both seam and spin from the outset. He pointed out that Gill’s tendency to use his feet and disrupt bowlers’ lengths makes him a difficult batter to plan against.
“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. 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,” he said.
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Talking about the title clash, Pathan said that Bengaluru looks good on paper despite Gujarat having the advantage of familiar conditions in Ahmedabad. He emphasised that RCB’s direct passage to the final has given them valuable extra time to rest, recover and prepare, a factor that could prove crucial in a high-pressure championship encounter
“RCB look like a complete team. If you compare them man to man with Gujarat Titans, RCB have more in-form players and more proven match-winners. Their batting is deep, their bowling attack has variety, and they have fielders who can save crucial runs. Plus, they have the advantage of a longer break as well, having qualified directly for the final by winning the first qualifier. They have been waiting and preparing in Ahmedabad while GT had to play and win the second qualifier,” he mentioned.
However, Pathan also warned Rajat Patidar’s side as GT’s success rate at the Narendra Modi Stadium is impressive, “Yes, the Narendra Modi Stadium is Gujarat Titans’ home ground. They know the conditions and that will push GT as favourites in many people’s eyes. But make no mistake, beating this RCB side will be a mountainous task for Shubman Gill and his men. RCB have already beaten GT once in the playoffs, and they will be raring to beat them again, this time in the final,” he noted.
