Everything about Gujarat Titans’ season revolves around the opening pair. Shabman Gul and Sai Sudharsan, and now former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has joined the duo’s growing list of admirers.The pair once again showed their brilliance against Qualifier 2. Rajasthan RoyalsChasing a tough target of 215, he made a match-winning opening stand of 167 runs. Gill scored a brilliant 104 off 53 balls, while Sudharsan provided explosive support with 58 off just 32 balls. Their partnership completely absorbed the pressure of the knockout contest and effectively sealed the result long before the final overs.Both batsmen have crossed the 700-run mark this season, with Gill currently second in the Orange Cap standings with 722 runs, followed by Sudharsan with 710 runs.Speaking on JioStar, Irfan Pathan called Gill and Sudharsan the greatest opening duo in IPL history.“Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan Tata are the best batting duo in IPL history. They have the record for most 100-run partnership and most 50-plus partnership in the tournament. In T20 cricket, if you want a flying start, you want both of them at the top. They complement each other. 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. He is ready to play the cut shot and punish any short. Nandre Berger and Jofra Archer did just that. He bowled short, and Gill and Sudharsan were waiting. Even when Yash Raj came into the claw attack, he bowled a slightly shorter length. Shubman Gill is not afraid to use his feet against both fast bowlers and spinners. He gets out, makes room, and hits the top,” he added. According to Pathan, the 167-run stand proved to be the defining moment of the match – “The opening partnership of 167 runs in just 77 balls was where Rajasthan Royals lost the game. This position completely took away his pursuit.”Their consistency is nothing new. Last season, despite Gujarat Titans’ eliminator loss to Mumbai Indians, Gill and Sudharsan scored 912 runs in 15 innings, the highest IPL 2025 partnership. Sudharsan also ended the campaign as the winner of the Orange Cap. This season, the two have already scored 886 runs together in 15 innings and need 27 more runs in the final to surpass their respective records.
