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Gujarat Titans’ two opening batsmen Shubman Gill and Sai Sudarshan have been favored to open for India in the ICC T20 World Cup 2028. Former Indian batsman Ambati Rayudu has endorsed him given his excellent statistics as an opening batsman in the last few seasons of the IPL.
Gujarat Titans made it to the final of the IPL 2026 edition after being eliminated from the eliminator of the last season of the IPL. This was their third entry in the final of the IPL season and full credit for this goes to their opening pair.
Gujarat Titans openers Shubman Gill and Sai Sudarshan made the 11th century partnership as openers in the history of IPL. They have scored almost 950 runs in partnership in this season of IPL, while both the batsmen have added 700+ runs individually respectively.
Former IPL winner Ambati Rayudu had predicted that Gill-Sudarshan could open the innings for the Indians when they play the next T20 World Cup for India in 2028. It will be held in Australia and New Zealand, and he pointed out that the conditions are similar to the wickets on which both these batsmen have performed.
“I think we’re looking at a pair that can travel to Australia and deal with the conditions there. The wicket was very similar in pace and bounce. And the ease with which both of them are batting…I would be surprised if both of them don’t go there,” Rayudu said on ESPN Cricinfo.
He said, “If the conditions suit him, if you take Gill, you might want to take Sudarshan as well, because they both complement each other beautifully. You see it in the partnership; they both know each other’s game very well. It’s a great add-on if you want them to excel in different situations.”
Tom Moody suggested sending two Indian teams to Australia
Rayudu then claimed that other players in the Indian team are equally promising players and his aim is not to underestimate the class or form of any player. “I am not saying that others are not good…it may be that both of them are more suitable than others,” Rayudu said.
Former Australian cricketer Tom Moody responded quizzically to Rayudu’s comments and said lightly, “Send two teams.” India have a lot of good talent in recent times, and their form in this IPL season has been excellent. However, Moody said that IPL performance should not be the only factor in deciding team selection.
Moody warned, “The depth they have is amazing. But again, you are looking at the micro sector of the IPL; you need to look at the bigger picture. We all get influenced by what happens in the IPL. But international cricket is on a different level again.”
They can play the final: Former World Cup-winning captain backs World Champions to play 2028 final
After Tom Moody, another Australian gave his comments but unlike Moody, he backed the Indians to qualify for their third consecutive final in the ICC T20 World Cup.
“They can play the final,” said former World Cup-winning captain Aaron Finch (laughing). Aaron Finch’s claims make India a promising team long before T20 World Cup planning begins.
They are the former two-time defending champions and will once again enter the 2028 World Cup as the defending champions of the competition; However, this time Shubman Gill can also be seen as the captain of the team.
Also read: Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismisses Jasprit Bumrah; Sunil Narine was chosen first in the death over challenge.
