Irfan Pathan crowns Shubman Gill-Sai Sudharsan as ‘best batting pair in IPL history’

Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill (Pic credit: IPL) Everything about Gujarat Titans’ season revolved around the opening pair of Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan and now former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has joined the duo’s growing list of admirers.The pair again displayed their brilliance in Qualifier 2 against Rajasthan Royals as they put together a match-winning 167-run opening stand, chasing down a daunting target of 215. Gill led the charge with a stunning 104 off 53 balls, while Sudharsan provided explosive support with 58 off just 32 deliveries. Their partnership completely absorbed the pressure of the knockout contest and effectively sealed the result well 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, while Sudharsan is close behind with 710 runs.Irfan Pathan hailed Gill and Sudharsan as the greatest opening pair in IPL history on JioStar.“Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan are the best batting pair in the history of TATA IPL. They hold the record for most 100-run partnerships and most 50-plus partnerships in the tournament. In T20 cricket, if you want a flying start, you want both of them to be on top. They complement each other perfectly. One spins the strike, the other finds the boundaries, said PatoStar.’Pathan also highlighted how the pair punished Rajasthan Royals’ bowling plans in Qualifier 2.“If the bowlers try short-pitched deliveries, they actually enjoy it. They are ready to play cut cut and punish anything short. That’s exactly what Nandre Burger and Jofra Archer did. They bowled short and Gill and Sudharsan waited. Even when Yash Raj Punja came into the attack, he bowled at slightly shorter lengths. Shubman Gill is not afraid to use his legs and hit both the fast bowlers. Above,” 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 stand completely took away their chase.”Their consistency is not new. Last season, despite the Gujarat Titans Eliminator defeat against Mumbai Indians, Gill and Sudharsan combined for 912 runs in 15 innings, the highest partnership total of IPL 2025. Sudharsan also finished that campaign as Orange Cap winner. This season, the duo have already amassed 886 runs together in 15 innings and need just 27 more runs in the final to break their own record.