Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav are struggling for runs in T20Is lately.
Shubman Gill’s place in India’s T20I XI has come under the scanner after his string of low scores in the ongoing five-match series against South Africa at home.
Gill’s return to the T20I fold as deputy during the Asia Cup 2025 didn’t yield best of returns as he scored only 127 runs in seven innings at an average of 21.16 and a strike rate of 151.19. The right-hander failed to make a mark in the subsequent five T20Is on the tour of Australia, amassing 132 runs at a strike rate of 136.08 without a half-century.
With the T20 World Cup 2026 around the corner, Gill produced scores of 4 and 0 in the first two T20Is against South Africa in Cuttack and New Chandigarh, and followed it with a rusty run-a-ball 28 in Dharamsala on Sunday (December 14).
Amid his struggles, India opener Abhishek Sharma has backed Shubman Gill to overcome a T20I lean patch, expressing strong confidence in his childhood friend’s ability to deliver match-winning performances, including at the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Abhishek, who scored 35 off 18 balls in the third T20I, also threw his weight behind skipper Suryakumar Yadav, whose form in 2025 has been far from convincing. Surya has produced scores of 12, 5 and 12 in the first three T20Is against South Africa so far.
"I'll tell you one thing straight away, that trust me, these two guys are going to win matches in World Cup (in February-March) and in this series as well," Abhishek told reporters after India’s seven-wicket win in Dharamsala T20I.
"Because I've been playing with them since so long, especially with Shubman, so I know which match he can win, which conditions, irrespective of the team, whoever it is," he said.
"So I have a lot of faith in him from the beginning, and I hope everyone will see him very soon and everyone will have faith in him," added the world’s No.1-ranked T20 batter.
When Abhishek was dismissed in the sixth over, India’s score was 60/1 but the hosts took more than 10 overs to finish the chase, with both Gill and Suryakumar unable to accelerate freely. Abhishek explained the approach following the explosive start.
"There was a bit of help for the fast bowlers, and as I was batting, I knew that if I gave a good start here, the match could get over in the Powerplay, and that's what happened.
"...that was the plan for the rest of the batters, that they would just knock out or finish the match, so it was a very simple plan after that," he said.
Abhishek also highlighted the challenging conditions in Dharamsala during December evenings.
"Conditions of course, I mean, as a batter you have to keep those things in mind that the ball is swinging a bit or it's seaming a bit, so I tried to play a few shots which is suitable for those wickets and pitches, so that's the plan always."
Having gained a 2-1 lead, India will look to clinch the series in the penultimate T20I against South Africa in Lucknow on Wednesday (December 17).