New Delhi: Gujarat Titans openers Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan continued their sensational form in IPL 2026 with yet another dominant opening partnership, this time against Chennai Super Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
Dominant Partnership
Already through to the playoffs, Gujarat Titans once again got off to a blazing start as Gill and Sudharsan stitched together a superb 125-run opening stand, leaving the CSK bowlers searching for answers. The duo has been the backbone of Gujarat Titans' campaign this season, consistently providing solid starts and laying strong foundations at the top.
Historic Feat
Both Gill and Sudharsan have now crossed the 600-run mark in IPL 2026, making them the only pair from the same franchise in IPL history to have two batters score 600-plus runs in back-to-back seasons. The GT openers had also achieved the feat in IPL 2025. Before the GT duo, several teams had produced two 600-plus run-scorers in a single season, but no franchise had managed to repeat the feat with the same pair in multiple seasons.
Interestingly, Virat Kohli has crossed the 600-run mark three times in IPL history - in 2013, 2016 and 2023 - but with a different batting partner each time. He achieved the milestone alongside Chris Gayle in 2013, AB de Villiers in 2016 and Faf du Plessis in 2023.
List of 600-Plus Run Pairs in IPL
- Chris Gayle & Virat Kohli (RCB, 2013)
- Virat Kohli & AB de Villiers (RCB, 2016)
- Ruturaj Gaikwad & Faf du Plessis (CSK, 2021)
- Virat Kohli & Faf du Plessis (RCB, 2023)
- Shubman Gill & Sai Sudharsan (GT, 2025)
- Shubman Gill & Sai Sudharsan (GT, 2026)
Match Highlights
Gill led the charge with a sparkling 64 off just 37 deliveries before falling to Spencer Johnson, while Sudharsan continued his golden run with another fluent half-century, bringing up his fifty in only 35 balls. The knock also marked Sudharsan's fifth consecutive 50-plus score in IPL 2026, putting him alongside some of the biggest names in tournament history.
Most Consecutive 50-Plus Scores in IPL
- 5 — Virender Sehwag (2012)
- 5 — Jos Buttler (2018)
- 5 — David Warner (2019)
- 5 — Sai Sudharsan (2026)
Stay updated with the latest IPL Live Score, IPL news on Times of India. Follow the IPL Schedule, check the IPL Points Table, and track the race for the IPL Orange Cap and IPL Purple Cap.
About the Author: TOI Sports Desk — At TOI Sports Desk, reporters work around the clock to bring you comprehensive updates from the world of sports. Expect nuanced match reports, previews, and reviews, along with statistics-based technical analysis, the latest social media trends, and expert insights across cricket, football, tennis, badminton, hockey, motorsports, wrestling, boxing, shooting, athletics, and more.
