Introduction: In a thrilling encounter at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Gujarat Titans’ captain Shubman Gill etched his name in the annals of T20 cricket history by becoming the second-fastest Indian to reach 5000 runs in the format. This milestone came during an electrifying IPL 2025 clash against Delhi Capitals, where Gill’s bat spoke louder than words, guiding his team towards a potentially match-winning chase.
The Milestone Moment: Achieving the feat in just 154 innings, Gill trails only behind KL Rahul, who reached the landmark in 143 innings. The young opener’s consistency and flair have been on display throughout his career, and this record is a testament to his growing stature in world cricket. For context, the fastest to 5000 T20 runs globally is the legendary Chris Gayle in 132 innings, showcasing just how elite Gill’s achievement is. Here’s a look at the fastest players to this milestone:
- 132 innings – Chris Gayle
- 143 innings – KL Rahul
- 144 innings – Shaun Marsh & Devon Conway
- 145 innings – Babar Azam
- 154 innings – Shubman Gill
Partnership Power: Gill’s milestone was complemented by a scintillating 100-run partnership with fellow opener Sai Sudharsan while chasing a daunting target of 200 runs. This was their seventh 100+ stand in IPL history, placing them third on the all-time list behind iconic duos like Virat Kohli-AB de Villiers (10) and Kohli-Chris Gayle (9). Their synergy at the top of the order has been a cornerstone of Gujarat Titans’ success, pushing the 2022 champions closer to securing a playoff berth.
Record-Breaking Day: The match wasn’t just about Gill’s heroics. Earlier, Delhi Capitals’ KL Rahul delivered a breathtaking unbeaten 112 off 65 balls—the first century by a right-handed batter in IPL 2025 and the highest individual score against Gujarat Titans, eclipsing Suryakumar Yadav’s 103* set in 2023. Adding to his laurels, Rahul also became the fastest Indian to 8000 T20 runs in just 224 innings, surpassing Virat Kohli’s 243 innings. Interestingly, all four previous centurions this season—Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Priyansh Arya, and Vaibhav Suryavanshi—were left-handers, making Rahul’s knock even more significant.
Conclusion: As Gujarat Titans’ openers made the chase look deceptively easy, the spotlight remained firmly on Shubman Gill, whose record-breaking evening underscored his importance to the team and Indian cricket at large. With KL Rahul’s century setting the stage earlier, this IPL 2025 encounter will be remembered as a clash of titans, laden with milestones and breathtaking cricket. Will Gill’s form propel Gujarat to another title, or will Delhi fight back in this intriguing battle? Only time will tell.