Some decisions can be double-edged swords.

Last year, when Gujarat Titans decided to elevate Sai Sudharsan to open alongside Shubman Gill, eyebrows were raised. After all, the franchise was promoting a youngster at the top, instead of a seasoned Jos Buttler.

Many felt the move defied logic.

Two seasons later, however, the decision appears inspired. Sudharsan and Gill have flourished at the top, powering the Titans into the IPL 2026 final, where they will take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.

Last year, while opening the innings, the pair amassed 912 partnership runs. This season, as opening partners, they have already put together 886 runs, rekindling memories of the iconic Virat Kohli-AB de Villiers partnership for RCB a decade ago.

But those were different times.

Having spent considerable time together, both with the Titans and in the Indian team setup, Gill and Sudharsan have developed a strong understanding. Their conversations on and off the field have helped them know each other better.

“We spend a lot of time in the IPL together on the field, off field as well and then we are in the Test team as well, so we have a lot of conversations. There are things that we talk about cricket, outside of cricket,” Gill said.

Those interactions, Gill believes, have contributed to Sudharsan’s growth as a cricketer.

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Gill feels Sudharsan’s remarkable consistency stems as much from what he does away from the field as from his exploits on it. In a tournament as demanding as the IPL, maintaining the same level of intensity over two months can be one of the toughest challenges, and the Titans captain sees that as one of Sudharsan’s defining qualities.

Ahead of last season, when Sudharsan finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer and eventually earned a Test call-up, the Titans management advised him to manage his energy carefully through the long campaign.

While extended net sessions are largely confined to two days before a match, his preparation continues in other forms. Yoga, meditation and visualisation have become integral parts of his routine, particularly on the eve of games, when he is often encouraged to stay away from the practice wickets.

“In a tournament like IPL, when I first started playing, one of the challenges that I faced was to keep playing the matches at the same intensity and I think that is one of his (Sudharsan’s) biggest strength,” Gill said.

“You play so many matches; there could be days where mentally you don’t feel up to the mark or physically you don’t feel up to the mark but to be able to have the same intensity in all of the matches and be consistent in your preparation (and) in your routine is not that easy. He is someone who is very consistent in his routines, in his life outside of cricket… so that is what makes him consistent on the field as well…”

Published on May 30, 2026