Former Indian batsman Aakash Chopra has praised him fiercely. Gujarat Titans' (GT) The all-rounder is entering the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) playoffs with strength. This comes after the 2022 champions had a solid win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Ahmedabad, giving themselves a good chance of booking a place in Qualifier 1.
Chopra was extremely impressed with GT's consistent top order. Captain Shubman Gill and Sai Sudarshan both continued their great form against CSK and scored 64 and 84 runs respectively. Run-scoring was taken to new heights by Jos Buttler after the loss of Gill, with the former England captain making 57 not out at a strike-rate of 211.11. The former player-turned-pundit credited the top three for helping GT reach 229 runs in the first innings despite bowler-friendly conditions.
Aakash Chopra on Geostar said, “Gujarat Titans were performing well in every department and showed why they are one of the strongest teams in the tournament. On a surface where the batting was not entirely straightforward and the fast bowlers were getting assistance, they still managed to score over 220 against a quality pace attack. Their top order once again laid the foundation, while Jos Buttler provided the final inspiration in the end.”
Meanwhile, GT's bowling has also been as impressive as their batting, something they showcased against CSK as they bowled out them for just 140 runs and secured an 89-run win. Mohammad Siraj, Kagiso Rabada and Rashid Khan took three wickets each.
Chopra believes that the 2026 IPL final in Ahmedabad will serve as additional motivation for GT to maintain its winning momentum in the playoffs.
Then with the ball, they executed their plans perfectly and completely outclassed Chennai Super Kings. The margin of victory was important as after the defeat they needed to make a strong statement in the race for a top two finish. The final is also scheduled to be played in Ahmedabad, if Gujarat Titans can continue this momentum they will feel even more confident,” he said.
Shubman Gill and Sai Sudarshan get appreciation from South African legend
GT's opening pair of Gill and Sudarshan has been praised by former South African wicketkeeper Mark Boucher for their consistency in this IPL.
“Shubman Gill and Sai Sudarshan stand out because of the consistency with which they score runs and the hunger with which they show up in every game. In an era where T20 batting is often associated with constant innovation and high-risk shots, they rely heavily on strong cricketing fundamentals and proper shot-making. A lot of their limitations come from pure timing and traditional cricket shots rather than forcing the game. What makes them so effective is that they still Maintain that control and composure while managing to keep the bowling attack under constant pressure,” said Mark Boucher on JioStar.
After their heroics against CSK, both Sudarshan and Gill are placed first and second in the Orange Cap leaderboard. The left-handed batsman is the current holder of the cap with 638 runs at a strike rate of 157.92. On the other hand, the GT captain has scored 616 runs at the top of the order with a striking of 161.67.
Get every cricket update! Follow us: :
Leave a Reply