Sunil Gavaskar has praised Shubman Gill’s leadership in IPL 2025, especially highlighting how Sai Sudharsan has thrived under Gill’s captaincy at Gujarat Titans. Gavaskar described Gill as a selfless leader who takes joy in his teammates shining rather than seeking the spotlight himself.
This commendation came after a dominant performance by the Gujarat Titans’ opening pair on Sunday, 18 May, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Gill and Sudharsan smashed a record-breaking 205-run opening stand, powering GT to a commanding 10-wicket win over Delhi Capitals. Sudharsan remained unbeaten on 108, while Gill finished not out on 93. This was their second 200-plus partnership in IPL history, featuring 15 boundaries and 11 sixes.
Gavaskar highlighted Gill’s maturity and leadership during pressure moments, particularly how he supported Sudharsan when the latter struggled against spinner Kuldeep Yadav. Gill was seen constantly communicating with Sudharsan, using subtle cues to encourage him to keep attacking but with caution. Gavaskar noted, “Shubman was telling Sai, ‘You go for the sixes, I’ll stick to the boundaries.’” This low-risk, high-reward strategy clearly paid off.
Together, Gill and Sudharsan have amassed 839 runs in 12 matches this season, dominating the partnership charts and climbing into the top five all-time IPL partnership run-scorers with 1,985 runs at an average above 60. Sudharsan leads the Orange Cap race with 617 runs, just ahead of Gill by 16 runs. Their left-hand/right-hand combination, combined with classy shots like flicks and drives executed with minimal risk, has been pivotal for Gujarat Titans.
Gavaskar also praised the consistency of Gujarat’s top three, including England’s Jos Buttler, which has kept the team in a strong position. With a double-century partnership being a rare feat in T20 cricket, this duo’s form speaks volumes.
Looking ahead, Gujarat Titans aim to secure a top-two league finish to bolster their playoff chances. They face Lucknow Super Giants on 22 May in Lucknow and conclude the league at home against Chennai Super Kings.
