Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has described Gujarat Titans openers Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan as the greatest opening pair in IPL history following their match-winning performance in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2026. The duo played a pivotal role in Gujarat Titans' successful chase against Rajasthan Royals, helping their side secure a place in the final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Gill and Sudharsan put together a stunning 167-run partnership in just 77 deliveries while chasing 215. Their aggressive yet calculated approach dismantled the Rajasthan Royals bowling attack and ensured Gujarat reached the target comfortably. The stand further strengthened their reputation as one of the most dominant batting combinations in the tournament.

Speaking after the match, Pathan highlighted the pair's record-breaking achievements, noting that they hold the IPL records for the most century partnerships and the most 50-plus stands by an opening pair. He credited their success to the balance in their playing styles, with one batter rotating the strike effectively while the other consistently finds boundaries.

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Pathan also pointed to Rajasthan's bowling strategy as a key factor behind Gujarat's dominance. According to him, the decision to persist with short-pitched deliveries played directly into the strengths of both batters. He noted that bowlers such as Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger were unable to trouble the pair, who capitalised on anything short and maintained pressure throughout the innings.

The former India star also praised Gill's ability to attack both pace and spin, saying the Gujarat captain's willingness to use his feet and create scoring opportunities makes him particularly difficult to contain. In Pathan's view, the contest was effectively decided during the opening stand, which took the game away from Rajasthan Royals long before the chase was completed.

Looking ahead to the IPL 2026 final, Pathan believes Royal Challengers Bengaluru hold a slight advantage despite Gujarat Titans enjoying home conditions at the Narendra Modi Stadium. He cited RCB's squad depth, form and additional preparation time after qualifying directly for the final. However, he acknowledged that Gujarat's familiarity with conditions in Ahmedabad could make for a closely contested title clash between the two sides.

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