Focus on Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill in Lucknow with just 7 matches remaining for the T20 World Cup

With just seven T20Is remaining before India begins their campaign for the 2026 T20 World Cup, 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 victory in the T20I series, but the bigger story line is that of two names at the top and the leadership group, Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill.

Presenting this as a clash between the finalists of the last T20 World Cup seems misleading. India’s momentum in T20Is since that tournament has been relentless, while South Africa have suffered 18 defeats in 28 matches. However, it is not primarily about winners and losers.

Shumbang Gill under pressure as time runs out

Shubman Gill’s return to the Indian T20I setup was aimed at bringing stability after the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Instead, it backfired. Since being reinstated as an opener and vice-captain in 2025, Gill has failed to record a single half-century in 15 innings. His average is below 25, with a strike rate that has not reached 140.

The pressure is mounting with India not fielding Sanju Samson or Yashasvi Jaiswal in the XI. In IPL 2025, Gill averaged close to 50 while batting at over 155 was a confidence booster. In T20Is, however, this mastery is nowhere to be seen. India also appear to have lost an opening partnership. While Abhishek Sharma continues to deliver on his promises, Gill has struggled to complement him, something Sanju Samson has done effectively during his stint at the top.

With just seven matches remaining before the World Cup, any failure would put India in legal limbo. Gill is also vice-captain, and dropping him so close to the World Cup would be huge. But India will hope Gill’s numbers match his talent before seven T20Is become one or two. Another quiet outing in Lucknow will only amplify calls for change.

Suryakumar Yadav’s biggest concern as captain

If Gill’s figures are worrying, those of Suryakumar Yadav are even more alarming. We feel that it is not a bad form but a decline in his batting graph. The Indian T20I captain has been on a prolonged slump, averaging just 14.35 in 2025 with a strike rate of 126.41. He has not scored fifty in 21 innings, with his last half-century coming in October 2024.

The burden of being captain seems real. As a hitter without leadership responsibilities, SKY was among the most destructive players in the world. Since he took over full-time, his average has dropped below 19 and he definitely seems out of touch. The teams discovered his weak points but Suryakumar was unable to counter them. According to Robin Uthappa, however, Suryakumar’s horrible form is due to the constant changing of his batting number.

Suryakumar Yadav: Snapshot of T20I numbers