India’s Key Batsmen Struggling Ahead of Home T20 World Cup
As India prepares to defend its T20 World Cup title in February 2026, concern has grown over the current form of captain Suryakumar Yadav and deputy Shubman Gill. Both players have struggled to find runs in the ongoing home series against South Africa, raising questions about their readiness for the global tournament.
Returning from a neck injury, opener Shubman Gill managed scores of four and zero in the first two T20 matches. The right-handed batsman has now gone 17 innings without a half-century in this format, though his impressive Indian Premier League (IPL) record underscores his batting class and potential.
Team Management Confident in Duo’s Revival
Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate expressed confidence in both players, emphasizing their proven ability at the IPL level.
“I thought he got a good ball today, which can happen when you are short on form,” Ten Doeschate said of Gill’s first-ball dismissal.
“But we also know the class. If you look at his IPL record—700 runs, 600 runs, 800 runs, 600 runs—we believe in his class and he will come good.”
Suryakumar Yadav, known for his T20 mastery, has had an even tougher stretch, scoring just 227 runs across his last 20 innings at an average of 13.35 with no fifties. Ten Doeschate stressed that backing quality players, especially leaders, is crucial:
“Personally, I think you back quality players and quality leaders like that and they will come good. From the outside, it may look concerning, but I have absolute faith they will perform at the right time for us.”
Former Players Voice Concern
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan highlighted the pressure on Suryakumar as captain, noting the importance of regaining form before the World Cup.
“Surya will be under pressure because he’s the captain, and as a captain, your spot in the playing XI is secure automatically,” Pathan said.
“As a player, if you haven’t scored runs in a year, you are under pressure. His form has to come back before the World Cup. He needs the right batting position and better shot selection.”
India Prepares to Host 2026 T20 World Cup
India, as defending champions, will co-host the 2026 T20 World Cup with Sri Lanka starting February 7, 2026. With both Suryakumar and Gill expected to play key roles, their ability to regain form will be crucial to India’s chances of retaining the trophy.
The ongoing series against South Africa offers both players an opportunity to rediscover their rhythm ahead of the global tournament, while also allowing the team management to finalize batting order strategies and leadership roles for the World Cup.
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