IPL 2025: Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill Crush Delhi Capitals with Record-Breaking Opening Stand
NEW DELHI: In a clash that will be etched in the annals of IPL history, Gujarat Titans (GT) demolished Delhi Capitals (DC) by 10 wickets at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday evening. The architects of this demolition were none other than GT’s dynamic openers, Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill, who showcased exactly what DC have been missing this season—a stable and explosive opening pair.
DC, batting first after winning the toss, posted a formidable 199/5, largely due to a breathtaking century from KL Rahul. Rahul’s unbeaten 112 off 65 balls, studded with 14 fours and 4 sixes, was a masterclass in pacing a T20 innings. He reached his ton in just 60 balls, becoming the fastest Indian to 8000 T20 runs, climbing to fourth on the list of most IPL centuries, and joint-third for most T20 centuries by an Indian. Yet, despite this monumental effort, DC’s hopes were dashed by GT’s ruthless reply.
KL Rahul started cautiously, scoring 25 runs off his first 20 balls, before accelerating to score 38 and 39 in the next two sets of 20 balls. His last 5 balls yielded 10 runs, a testament to his ability to shift gears seamlessly. However, DC’s opening woes continued as Faf du Plessis managed just 5 runs, leaving Rahul to shoulder the burden alone. DC’s gamble to promote Rahul to the top of the order paid dividends individually but failed to translate into a team victory.
In stark contrast, GT’s opening duo of Sudharsan and Gill turned the game on its head. Chasing 200, the pair stitched together a staggering 158-run opening stand—the highest ever against DC in IPL history. This partnership wasn’t just a record; it was GT’s seventh 50-plus opening stand in IPL 2025 and their seventh century stand overall as a pair. The duo made the chase look effortless, with Sudharsan smashing 108 off 61 balls and Gill contributing a blistering 93 off 53 balls.
The chase was a boundary fest—GT hit 15 fours and 11 sixes, with 126 of their 205 runs coming from boundaries, accounting for a staggering 61.46% of their total. What stood out was their control; Gill boasted an 82% control rate on his shots, while Sudharsan was even better at 85%. Their disciplined aggression was epitomized in the final blow—a colossal six by Sudharsan off a half-tracker from DC’s Vipraj Nigam, sealing the victory in style.
Post-match, GT assistant coach Parthiv Patel lauded the openers’ chemistry and preparation. “We’ve batted brilliantly all season, and reaching the playoffs is a reward for our consistency. Our openers play low-risk cricket yet possess the ability to dominate. They know their game inside out, and their focus on strong basics reflects in their performances,” Patel said. He also highlighted their partnership, adding, “An opening pair thrives on chemistry and understanding each other’s game, and they’ve mastered that.”
This emphatic win not only secured GT a spot in the IPL 2025 playoffs but also paved the way for Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings to advance. For DC, it was a harsh reminder of their season-long struggle to find a reliable opening combination, a flaw that Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill exploited with clinical precision.
As the IPL 2025 playoffs loom, GT will take immense confidence from this performance. With Sudharsan and Gill in such formidable form, they are emerging as serious contenders for the title. For now, though, the cricketing world stands in awe of a partnership that redefined dominance in T20 cricket.