Former India batter Aakash Chopra has heaped praise on the Gujarat Titans’ (GT) all-round strength as they march into the playoffs of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL). This comes after the 2022 champions’ convincing win over the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Ahmedabad to give themselves a good chance to book a place in Qualifier 1.
Chopra was extremely impressed by GT’s ever-consistent top order. Both captain Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan continued with their fine form against CSK, scoring 64
and 84 respectively. The run-scoring was taken to new heights by Jos Buttler once the side lost Gill, with the former England captain hitting an unbeaten 57 at a strike-rate of 211.11. The former player-turned-pundit credited the top three for leading GT to 229 in the first innings, despite the conditions favouring the bowlers.
“Gujarat Titans were clinical in every department and showed exactly why they are one of the strongest sides in the tournament. On a surface where batting wasn’t entirely straightforward and there was assistance for the fast bowlers, 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 finishing impetus at the end,” Aakash Chopra said on JioStar.
GT’s bowling, meanwhile, has been equally impressive as their batting, something that they showed against CSK to bundle them out for just 140 to secure an 89-run victory. Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada and Rashid Khan took three wickets each.
Chopra believes that the 2026 IPL final being in Ahmedabad will serve as extra motivation for GT to carry their winning momentum in the playoffs.
Then with the ball, they executed their plans perfectly and completely outplayed Chennai Super Kings. The margin of victory was significant because coming off a loss, they needed to make a strong statement in the race for a top-two finish. With the final also set to be played in Ahmedabad, Gujarat Titans will feel even more confident if they can carry this momentum forward,” he added.
Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan receive appreciation from South African legend
GT’s opening duo of Gill and Sudharsan have been applauded by former South African wicketkeeper Mark Boucher for their consistency in this IPL.
“Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan stand out because of the consistency with which they score runs and the hunger they continue to show every single game. In an era where T20 batting is often associated with constant innovation and high-risk shots, they rely heavily on strong cricketing basics and proper shot-making. A lot of their boundaries come from pure timing and conventional cricket shots rather than forcing the game. What makes them so effective is that they still manage to put bowling attacks under pressure consistently while maintaining that control and composure at the crease,” Mark Boucher said on JioStar.
Following their heroics against CSK, both Sudharsan and Gill find themselves first and second in the Orange Cap leaderboard. The left-handed batter is the current holder of the cap with 638 runs at a strike-rate of 157.92. The GT skipper, on the other hand, has hit 616 runs whilst striking at 161.67 at the top of the order.
