Former India cricketer Suresh Raina has hailed Gujarat Titans openers Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan as the greatest batting pair in IPL history ahead of GT’s Qualifier 1 clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Raina praised the duo’s consistency, game awareness and ability to build partnerships at a pace no other opening pair in IPL history has matched.
Gill and Sudharsan have once again been the backbone of Gujarat Titans’ batting in IPL 2026, continuing the dominance they showed last season as well. The pair recently entered an elite T20 list after registering their 10th century partnership together, equalling legendary combinations like Virat Kohli-Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli-AB de Villiers and Babar Azam-Mohammad Rizwan.
Speaking on JioHotstar’s ‘Champions Waali Commentary’, Raina explained why he believes the GT duo now stands above every other opening pair the IPL has seen.
“Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan are the finest batting pair in the history of TATA IPL. In 46 innings together, they have put up 21 partnerships of 50 runs or more,” Raina said.
“The next best pair is Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli, followed by AB de Villiers and Kohli in third place. This shows the quality of Gill and Sai. They complement each other’s game very well. What stands out is that they have reached 21 fifty-plus stands in just 46 innings – the fastest in IPL history. Gayle and Kohli took 59 innings to get there, while ABD and Kohli needed 76 innings.”
WHY GILL AND SUDHARSAN STAND OUT
Raina particularly highlighted the duo’s ability to control innings without relying too heavily on risky strokeplay, something that has made Gujarat Titans one of the most consistent batting sides in the tournament.
“The consistency of Gill and Sudharsan as an opening pair is remarkable. They take time to build their innings, keep dot balls to a minimum, and complement each other’s game perfectly,” Raina said.
“They pick the right bowlers to target. One uses the pace of the bowler, while the other uses the angle to create room for his shots.”
The former CSK batter also pointed towards their fitness and game awareness as major reasons behind their success this season.
“Both are extremely fit, and their game awareness stands out. They know which shots to play and when to attack. The biggest strength is how consistently they score runs. No other batting pair in the IPL this season has matched their level of consistency,” he added.
GT OPENERS READY FOR RCB QUALIFIER 1 TEST
Gill and Sudharsan have already crossed the 600-run mark individually this season and have consistently handed Gujarat strong starts throughout IPL 2026.
Former India pacer Umesh Yadav also praised the pair for the way they approach the powerplay overs without unnecessary risks.
“We’ve seen how well these two batters handle the powerplay. They don’t go for high-risk shots. They bat so smoothly that you feel the runs aren’t coming,” Umesh said.
“But when the powerplay ends, you suddenly notice they’ve already put 60 on the board. That’s their class. They play according to their strengths and according to the nature of the pitch.”
The pair will once again carry Gujarat Titans’ batting hopes when they take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Qualifier 1, with a direct place in the IPL 2026 final at stake.
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