Gujarat Titans openers Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill achieved a historic first in the Indian Premier League by becoming the first-ever all-Indian opening pair to score over 2500 runs together.
They reached the milestone when the duo put up an opening stand of 118 runs and bolstered Gujarat Titans to post 229 for 4 against Rajasthan Royals in an IPL 2026 match on Saturday.
Virat Kohli-AB de Villiers (3123 runs) and Virat Kohli-Chris Gayle (2787 runs) opening partneships dominate the list.
Sudharsan, who struck a fluent 55 off 36 deliveries, said the pitch was excellent for strokeplay initially before becoming slower as the innings progressed.
“At the start, the wicket was really good, but once the ball got rough, I think it started to turn a bit and it was a bit slow actually,” Sudharsan said after the innings.
The left-handed opener said GT knew they had to make the most of the new ball against the Royals’ pace attack, especially against the threat posed by Jofra Archer.
“It’s always a great challenge playing against Jofra, but we had it in our mind that if an over started really well for us, we went for the over and it happened very well in the powerplay,” he said.
Archer had a tough start as GT stormed to 82 without loss in the first six overs, matching their highest-ever powerplay score in IPL history. Sudharsan took full advantage of the loose deliveries, smashing six fours and two sixes during his innings.
However, Sudharsan admitted that batting became tougher later in the innings, especially against slower balls and spin, as the pitch started offering more assistance to the bowlers.
“No, I think the team will be planning for that, but there’ll be a lot of slower ones, a lot of cutters. If we look to spin the ball well, I think it’s not so easy to hit on this wicket,” he explained while speaking about the bowling approach Gujarat Titans could adopt in the chase.
Sudharsan and Gill kept attacking throughout their partnership and did not allow the RR bowlers to settle into a rhythm.
“We were very free, to be honest. Me and Shubman, we were going after the bowlers. There was no hesitation or resistance when we went on to bat,” Sudharsan said.
“We had a very good powerplay. We should have had very good middle overs. I think I lost my wicket at the right time for the RR team. We could have had maybe a bigger partnership,” he added.
Sudharsan also spoke highly of his understanding with Gill, with the pair continuing one of the most productive opening combinations in the IPL.
“I think we share a very good partnership with each other, a very good relationship. And I feel I look up to a lot of things from Shubman,” Sudharsan said.
“And it’s always a validation when I, you know, after a boundary or after an over, we talk about something. It actually becomes a validation and it’s helpful for me to go in the same direction,” he added.
Gill later played a superb knock of 84 off 44 balls, while cameos from Washington Sundar and Rahul Tewatia helped Gujarat Titans post a massive 229 for 4, and in reply the Royals were bundled out for 152 in 16.3 overs.
