T-8. With each passing day, the 2026 T20 World Cup comes closer. The India vs South Africa T20I series is underway. That’s why each match, including the Dharamshala T20I, is of the highest priority.
The Men in Blue have a settled unit. But form remains an issue. India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav, and vice-captain, Shubman Gill, have been woefully out of touch. They comprise two of India’s top four batters, and the home team might fail to defend their T20 World Cup title if both of them are struggling for runs.
Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra asked tough questions of Suryakumar. The 360-degree batter has been struggling for runs since he was appointed as India’s new T20I captain in July 2024.
“You are the team’s captain; your job is not just to toss and manage the bowlers. It’s not just about making the strategy. If you bat in the top four, your primary role is to score runs. It’s been many matches. If you have an average of 14 in 17 innings and the strike rate is also not very good, you don’t have a single fifty and have crossed 25 just twice; it’s been a problem on either side of the IPL,” Aakash said on his YouTube channel.
Shubman Gill & Suryakumar Yadav: T20I stats in 2025
| Matches | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shubman Gill | 20 | 506 | 66 | 31.62 | 136.38 | 0 | 2 |
| Suryakumar Yadav | 17 | 210 | 47* | 14.35 | 126.41 | 0 | 0 |
Meanwhile, Gill’s inclusion and struggles have been criticised for a long time. He was brought into the side in the 2025 Asia Cup, not just as the second opener but also as the vice-captain. But since then, Gill has played 13 innings and hasn’t even registered one fifty.
Another former Indian cricketer, Mohammad Kaif, didn’t just question Gill’s performance but urged the management to rest him in the India vs South Africa 3rd T20I and bring Samson back into the team.
“Gill has tried everything. I think the time has come to give him a break and try players who are proven. Sanju Samson is a top-quality player; he hasn’t received enough chances. There should not be double standards. Even vice-captains have been dropped before. If it is in the team’s interest to rest Gill and bring in someone else, there is nothing wrong with it,” Kaif said.
India’s T20I schedule until T20 World Cup 2026
| Match | Date | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| India vs South Africa 2nd T20I | December 11 | Mullanpur, Chandigarh | 7 PM IST |
| India vs South Africa 3rd T20I | December 14 | HPCA, Dharamsala | 7 PM IST |
| India vs South Africa 4th T20I | December 17 | Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow | 7 PM IST |
| India vs South Africa 5th T20I | December 19 | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | 7 PM IST |
| India vs New Zealand 1st T20I | January 21 | Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur | 7 PM IST |
| India vs New Zealand 2nd T20I | January 23 | Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur | 7 PM IST |
| India vs New Zealand 3rd T20I | January 25 | Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati | 7 PM IST |
| India vs New Zealand 4th T20I | January 28 | ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam | 7 PM IST |
| India vs New Zealand 5th T20I | January 31 | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram | 7 PM IST |
