Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan Placed In Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers' League By CSK Legend

Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli [Source: @CREX/X and AFP]

As the Gujarat Titans finished in second position on the points table in IPL 2026 and are set to play the Qualifier 1 on May 26 against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, massive praise came flying in from CSK legend for Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan.

Suresh Raina praised the GT opening pair for their outstanding performance in IPL, while even comparing them to the legendary pairs of AB De Villiers, Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle and Kohli too.

Notably, Sai and Gill have been one of the marquee pairs for GT’s success with the bat, with them putting up a total of 2760 runs for the franchise.

Suresh Raina Calls Gill And Sai ‘Finest Batting Pair’ Of IPL History

Speaking on JioHotstar's 'Champions Waali Commentary', Raina praised the duo that led the team to multiple wins in this edition of the tournament.

"Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan are the finest batting pair in the history of IPL. In 46 innings together, they have put up 21 partnerships of 50 runs or more. The next best pair is Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli, followed by AB de Villiers and Kohli in third place," Raina said.

Raina then backed his claim with noticeable stats that explain how they are one of the fastest pairs to reach mammoth runs in the tournament.

“This shows the quality of Gill and Sai. They complement each other's games 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," Raina added.

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Raina Praises Gill-Sai's Superb Consistency

Gill and Sai Sudharsan have rewritten T20 record books with their extraordinary partnership numbers. The Gujarat Titans duo already owns 10 century stands together, the joint-highest by any opening pair in T20 cricket, and they achieved the feat in only 46 innings, quicker than any pair before them.

They also became the first openers in T20 history to complete a successful 200-plus chase without losing a wicket. Adding to their dominance, the pair has accumulated over 2,000 runs together at the top of the order while maintaining an exceptional average of more than 67.

Talking about the consistency Gill and Sudharsan bring as a batting pair, Raina added to their praise.

"The consistency of Shubman Gill and Sai 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. 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."

"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," Raina concluded.

Is Gill And Sai really The Best pair In IPL History?

What is Soumyajit’s take?

While Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan have rapidly climbed into third place among the most successful batting partnerships in IPL history, the legendary combination of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers still stands as the benchmark.

The iconic RCB duo amassed 3123 runs together in 76 innings at an impressive average of 43.98, dominating an era where T20 batting was not as explosively aggressive as it is today.

It is true that Gill and Sai currently hold the best average among the top five IPL partnerships at 62.72. However, Kohli and de Villiers built their numbers during a period when ultra-attacking franchise cricket had not completely transformed batting approaches.

Credit must go to Gill and Sai for adapting brilliantly to the modern demands of high-tempo T20 cricket and producing staggering numbers with fearless batting. 

Yet, the elegance, consistency, and match-winning brilliance displayed by Kohli and ABD remain among the greatest spectacles ever witnessed in IPL history.

Also Read- Gujarat Titans' Record In Qualifier 1 Ahead Of IPL 2026 Match Vs RCB