IPL 2025: Sai Sudharsan And Shubman Gill Put On A Class Act

IPL 2025: This is turning out to be a summer of joy for Gujarat Titans, with openers Shubman Gill (93 not out) and young man in form, Sai Sudharsan (108 not out) on a rock and roll mission.

On Sunday night at the Feroz Shah Kotla, rechristened as the Arun Jaitley Stadium, this explosive pair smashed the Delhi Capitals bowling attack with arrogance and authority to script a 10-wicket win in the IPL 2025.

The aura and sweet fragrance from Sai's knock could be smelt all over as he treated the holiday crowd to a century which was bold and beautiful. Bold, for the way he produced shots, and beautiful for being a left-hander who creates such a fine balance between attack and finesse.

There are batters who slog and hit big sixes, looking muscular. No, with Sai Sudharsan, the romance he is creating with his skipper Shubman Gill is a finite reminder this pair can shift gears and flatten the rival attack, without the brute force.

Sample this, almost into the last stage of league matches in the IPL, Gujarat Titans winning and Punjab Kings also producing a muscular show against Rajasthan Royals means three teams are through to the Playoffs - Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings. The fight for the fourth team which will make the cut is on.

Certainly, Delhi Capitals looked like a lost babe in the woods as Sai and Shubman put on an act which was not about swish and swoosh shots but how playing conventional cricketing shots can still work like magic in T20 cricket.

There has never been any doubt about Gill the batter in terms of skills, looking attractive and also emerging as a leader who is front-runner for the India Test captaincy. This is his second term as Gujarat Titans. He is growing from strength to strength in many ways, as a batter and as a leader. The 2025 IPL is definitely a platform where Gill has enjoyed batting and leading a side where the performers have been stand-out.

After a forced break from action due to Operation Sindoor, one would have imagined if the players could get their act together straightaway. Saturday's match in Bengaluru between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders was rained out, but Sunday was veritable fiesta for cricket fans.

If Punjab Kings won a high stakes match against Rajasthan Royals, the night show at the Kotla was a contest of sorts between skippers Axar Patel and Shubman Gill.

Sample this, Axar is from Gujarat and leads Delhi. It was ironical, the Delhi side, despite a massive ton from KL Rahul fell short. This is a venue with small boundaries, so the sub 200 aggregate on the board from Delhi Capitals was short.

And once Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill, a Punjabi 'puttar' came out to bat, they had surveyed the ground like a Field Marshal. It was, as if, they had plotted in the dressing room how they were going to launch their attack. Without any reference to war, the shots Sai produced was a treat to watch.

Nothing ungainly, it was more like classical music. His feet positioning, executing shots where he brought into play the nuances of good movement on his feet and balance, he used genuine cricketing shots to pierce the field.

And the best part, Gill was more than happy to watch his junior partner blossom, which is a sign he is happy to support and guide a younger player. Sai has been standout for Gujarat Titans in the three seasons. Every bit of action these two produced together from running between wickets to ruining the rhythm of bowlers, this was a master class.

Coming as it were ahead of the Test series to England and also the India A Tour, these runs from Sai and Gill are worth it. For those who will say this is IPL and white ball cricket, oh, come on. Cricket is cricket and what's most important for a batter, he has got his eye in and is viewing the field so beautifully.

There were several shots from Sai which left you in a trance, yet the way he took on seasoned T. Natarajan was defining, producing shots on either side of the wicket with a thud. For the record, the Delhi Capitals bowling comprised Axar Patel, Natarajan, Mustafizur Rahman, Vipraj Nigam and Kuldeep Yadav.

Pace and spin, the way the bowlers suffered was painful to watch. All of a sudden, Delhi look club class, not a side which had threatened early qualification for the IPL 2025 playoffs.