IPL 2026 | Shubman Gill-Sai Sudharsan script history comparable to Virat Kohli-Chris Gayle T20 mammoth feat

Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle (Image credit: BCCI/IPL) NEW DELHI: Gujarat Titans openers Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan continued their record-breaking run in IPL 2026 as they once again tore apart the bowling attack during the encounter against Chennai Super Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday. GT’s opening duo formed yet another outstanding partnership and in the process made an elite list in the history of T20 cricket. Gill and Sudharsan registered their joint 10th century in men’s T20 cricket, equaling the all-time record jointly held by the legendary duo of Chris Gayle-Virat Kohli, Babar Azam-Mohammad Rizwan and AB de Villiers-Virat Kohli. What makes the achievement even more stunning is the speed with which the GT pair got there. Gill and Sudharsan needed just 46 innings to complete their 10th century stand – much less than the other legendary pairs on the list. Gayle and Kohli scored 63 innings, Babar and Rizwan 75 while de Villiers and Kohli required 77 innings.

Most century stands in men’s T20 cricket (any wicket)
10 – Shubman Gill & Sai Sudharsan (46 innings)
10 — Chris Gayle & Virat Kohli (63 innings)
10 – Babar Azam & Mohammad Rizwan (75 innings)
10 – AB de Villiers & Virat Kohli (77 innings)

The pair also created another IPL record during the innings. This was Gill and Sudharsan’s seventh century partnership for the opening wicket in IPL history – the most by any opening pair in the tournament. They went past the iconic combinations of David Warner & Shikhar Dhawan and Travis Head & Abhishek Sharma, both of whom had open stands for six centuries.Gill and Sudharsan also continued their dominance in terms of consistency. The pair have overtaken the famous pair of Virat Kohli-Faf du Plessis to equal Rohit Sharma-Ishan Kishan for the second spot with more than 50 opening stands in IPL history.The GT duo now have 15 fifty-plus open partnerships in just 31 innings – a phenomenal ratio rarely seen in IPL history. Only Warner and Dhawan are ahead with 18 fifty-plus stands, but they needed 48 innings to achieve the feat.

Most 50-plus openings stand in IPL history
18 — David Warner & Shikhar Dhawan (48 innings)
15 – Rohit Sharma & Ishan Kishan (43 innings)
15 – Shubman Gill & Sai Sudharsan (31 innings)
14 — Virat Kohli & Faf du Plessis (38 innings)
14 – Abhishek Sharma & Travis Head (37 innings)

The numbers are even more remarkable when looking at the overall run total and strikeout rate. Gill and Sudharsan have already amassed 1,898 runs together as an opening pair with an amazing average of 67.78 and a run rate of 9.87 – making them one of the most devastating and reliable opening combinations the league has ever seen.Only Warner and Dhawan have scored more runs as an IPL opening pair, but the GT duo has a significantly better average and scoring rate compared to most other partnerships on the list.

Highest number of open partnerships in IPL history
2220 — David Warner & Shikhar Dhawan (Avg: 47.23, RR: 8.59)
1898 – Shubman Gill & Sai Sudharsan (Avg: 67.78, RR: 9.87)
1890 – Virat Kohli & Faf du Plessis (Avg: 51.08, RR: 9.00)
1755 – Abhishek Sharma & Travis Head (Avg: 47.43, RR: 12.41)
1547 – Rohit Sharma & Ishan Kishan (Avg: 35.97, RR: 9.02)

The match also turned into a personal milestone for Gujarat Titans captain Gill, who became the seventh fastest batsman in men’s T20 cricket to complete 6000 runs in terms of innings. Gill reached the milestone in his 185th innings, only marginally behind Kohli who took 184 innings.

Fastest to 6000 T20 runs (by innings)
162—Chris Gayle
165—Babar Azam
166—KL Rahul
180 – Shaun Marsh
180 – Devon Conway
184—Virat Kohli
185—Shubman Gill

Gill’s feat becomes even more remarkable when we consider that he is one of only four players in the history of men’s T20 cricket to amass more than 6,000 runs before turning 27. Babar Azam, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Will Jacks are also on the elite list.Gujarat Titans have already qualified for the playoffs.