With just seven T20Is left before India begin their 2026 T20 World Cup campaign, every T20I before the event gives a chance to experiment and perhaps a golden chance for underperforming assets to perform. Tonight’s 4th T20I in Lucknow is no exception. Yes, a win would seal India’s 14th consecutive T20I series victory, but the bigger storyline is with two names at the top order and the leadership group, Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill.
Framing this as a clash between the finalists of the last T20 World Cup feels misleading. India’s T20I momentum since that tournament has been relentless, while South Africa have struggled with 18 losses in 28 games. However, it is not majorly about winners and losers.
Shubmang Gill under pressure as time runs out
Shubman Gill’s return to India’s T20I setup was meant to bring stability after the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Instead, it has backfired big time. Since being reinstated as opener and vice-captain in 2025, Gill has failed to register a single half-century in 15 innings. His average sits below 25, with a strike rate that hasn’t touched 140.
The pressure is mounting with India not featuring Sanju Samson or Yashasvi Jaiswal in the XI. In IPL 2025, Gill averaged close to 50 while striking at over 155 was a confidence-boosting side. In T20Is, however, that fluency in nowhere to be seen. India also appear to have lost an opening partnership. While Abhishek Sharma continues to deliver, Gill has struggled to complement him, something Sanju Samson managed effectively during his stint at the top.
With only seven matches left before the World Cup, every failure would put India in a limbo. Gill is also the vice-captain, and dropping him this close to the World Cup would be massive. But India would hope that Gill’s numbers align with his talent before seven T20Is become one or two. Another quiet outing in Lucknow will only amplify calls for change.
Suryakumar Yadav’s bigger concern as captain
If Gill’s numbers worry, Suryakumar Yadav’s are even more alarming. It feels that it is not a bad form but a decline of his batting graph. India’s T20I captain has endured a prolonged slump, averaging just 14.35 in 2025 with a strike rate of 126.41. He has not scored a fifty in 21 innings, with his last half-century dating back to October 2024.
The captaincy burden appears real. As a batter without leadership responsibility, SKY was among the most destructive players in the world. Since taking over full-time, his average has dropped below 19, and he definitely looks out of touch. Teams have found out his weak areas but Suryakumar hasn’t been able to counter them. As per Robin Uthappa, however, Suryakumar’s horrible form is because of the constant changing of his batting number.
Suryakumar Yadav: T20I numbers snapshot
| Phase | Inns | Runs | Avg | SR | 50+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 91 | 2771 | 35.98 | 163.96 | 25 |
| Not as captain | 58 | 2040 | 43.40 | 168.17 | 20 |
| Full-time captain | 26 | 431 | 18.73 | 146.10 | 2 |
| 2025 | 18 | 213 | 14.20 | 125.29 | 0 |
Editor's Pick
Cricket
Focus on Suryakumar Yadav & Shubman Gill in Lucknow with just 7 matches remain for T20 World Cup
Top Stories
