Gujarat Titans lost to Kolkata Knight Riders by 29 runs at Eden Gardens on Saturday, but their two openers walked away with something worth noting. Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill now sit first and second on the IPL 2026 run-scorers list, giving GT a rare 1-2 hold on the Orange Cap table with the tournament heading into its final stretch.
It was a batting performance that came despite the result. KKR posted 247, and GT fell short, but both openers gave the chase everything they had before it slipped away.
Sudharsan Fights Back to Reclaim Orange Cap
Sudharsan’s evening had an unusual turn. He was struck by a Kartik Tyagi delivery in the third over of the chase while on 23 off 13 balls and had to retire hurt. He returned to bat in the 17th over after Gill’s dismissal and picked up exactly where he left off — finishing unbeaten on 53 off 28 balls with six fours and three sixes.
That knock pushed his season total to 554 runs from 13 innings, putting him back at the top of the charts. He now averages 46.16 at a strike rate of 157.83, with one century and six half-centuries to his name this season. Sudharsan won the Orange Cap in IPL 2025 and is running hard to retain it.
Gill’s Third Big Score of the Season Lifts Him to Second
Shubman Gill made 85 off 49 balls against KKR, his third score of 80 or more in IPL 2026. He hit five fours and seven sixes during his innings and fell for 85 before Sudharsan returned to the crease. The GT captain now has 552 runs in 12 matches at a strike rate of 160.46 and an average of 46.00.
Going into Saturday’s game, Gill was placed outside the top two. His knock moved him up five places and right behind his teammate, separated by just two runs at the top of the table.
The fact that both openers are neck and neck in the same team makes GT’s batting position at the top of the run-scorers list all the more striking.
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Orange Cap Top Five: Where the Race Stands
Heinrich Klaasen of Sunrisers Hyderabad, who held the Orange Cap before Saturday’s match, has been pushed down to third. He has 508 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 153.93 — the only other batter in the tournament with 500-plus runs this season.
Virat Kohli of Royal Challengers Bengaluru is fourth with 484 runs in 12 innings. He has scored at a strike rate of 165.75 and holds a century to his name this season. Abhishek Sharma of SRH completes the top five with 481 runs in 12 innings. His strike rate of 209.13 is the highest among the top five, making him the most dangerous batter in the group on current form.
The gap between first and fifth is 73 runs. With several matches still remaining in the league stage, the Orange Cap could change hands more than once before the season ends. Sudharsan holds a slim lead, Gill is right behind him, and three serious challengers are not far back. The race is open.
IPL 2026: Latest Orange Cap Table Top 5 After Match 60
| Position | Player Name | Matches | Runs | Strike rate |
| 1 | B Sai Sudharsan (GT) | 13 | 554 | 157.83 |
| 2 | Shubman Gill (GT) | 12 | 552 | 160.46 |
| 3 | H Klaasen (SRH) | 12 | 508 | 153.93 |
| 4 | V Kohli (RCB) | 12 | 484 | 165.75 |
| 5 | Abhishek Sharma (SRH) | 12 | 481 | 209.13 |
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