Legendary Sunil Gavaskar has lavished praise on Shubman Gill for his leadership during IPL 2025, particularly highlighting how Sai Sudharsan has thrived under his captaincy at Gujarat Titans.
Gavaskar described Gill as a selfless leader who has enabled his opening partner to flourish at the crease.
Gavaskar’s remarks followed a ,who put together a record-breaking 205-run opening stand, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday, 18 May. Sudharsan remained unbeaten on 108, while Gill finished not out on 93 – another display of their formidable partnership.
“That’s the hallmark of a true leader,” Gavaskar told JioStar after Gujarat became the first team to qualify for the IPL 2025 playoffs.
“A true leader never seeks the spotlight. He takes joy in his teammates receiving the recognition. That’s what Shubman has done brilliantly this season.”
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On Sunday, it was Sudharsan who played the aggressor, while Gill was content to play a supporting role. Together, they smashed 15 boundaries and 11 sixes – marking their second 200-plus stand in IPL history.
Gill’s maturity was evident, especially during the middle overs when pressure began to build. The Gujarat skipper was seen frequently speaking to Sudharsan, particularly during the latter’s brief struggle against Kuldeep Yadav.
Gill countered spin effectively, striking several towering sixes and ensuring the required run rate never escalated during their clinical chase.
“From the non-striker’s end, he was constantly encouraging him. When Kuldeep was bowling, there were subtle signals,” Gavaskar explained.
“There was a phase when Sai found it tough to pick him initially. You could see Shubman making small movements with his gloves, little cues, essentially telling him, ‘Don’t stop playing your shots – just be a tad more cautious with this bowler.'”
“That’s what impressed me most about Shubman, aside from the brilliant shots and those massive sixes. I think he told Sai, ‘You go for the sixes, I’ll stick to the boundaries.'”
LOW RISK, HIGH REWARD
Gill and Sudharsan have now amassed 839 runs in 12 matches this season – leading the partnership charts by a considerable margin. They’ve also climbed into the top five of the all-time IPL partnership run-scorers, with 1,985 runs at an average exceeding 60.
Sudharsan currently tops the Orange Cap leaderboard with 617 runs in 12 matches, just 16 ahead of Gill. Gujarat’s commanding position in IPL 2025 has been anchored by the consistent form of their top three – including England’s Jos Buttler.
“A left-hand/right-hand combination always helps, and the way they’re batting is just top-class,” Gavaskar said.
“Look at the classic shots – the flicks, the drives – proper cricketing strokes with minimal risk. Shubman, at the non-striker’s end, was delighted watching Sai execute those shots so cleanly. That’s why their partnership works.”
“A double-century partnership in T20 cricket is a rarity – it speaks volumes about their form,” he added.
Gujarat Titans will now look to seal a top-two finish in the league table, giving them a strong position heading into the playoffs. Gill’s side next faces Lucknow Super Giants on 22 May in Lucknow, before wrapping up the league stage at home against Chennai Super Kings.