The Indian team management has backed skipper Suryakumar Yadav and his deputy Shubman Gill to turn things around before the home T20 World Cup early next year.
In the first two Twenty20 matches of the current home series against South Africa, starter Gill managed four and zero after recovering from a neck ailment. The right-hander has already played 17 innings in this format without a half-century.
“I thought he got (dismissed by) a good ball today, which can happen when you are short on form,” assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said after Gill, who has an outstanding record in the Indian Premier League (IPL), fell for a first-ball duck against South Africa on Thursday.
“But we also know the class. If you look at his IPL record, where he stacks up 700 runs, 600 runs, 800 runs, 600 runs. We believe in his class and we believe he will come good,” he added.
T20 specialist Suryakumar Yadav has scored 227 runs at 13.35 in his last 20 innings in this format without hitting any fifties.
“It’s exactly the same with Surya,” ten Doeschate said.
“Personally, I think you back quality players and quality leaders like that and they will come good. I can understand from the outside it looks like a concern, but I have got absolute faith in both of them coming good at the right time for us.”
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan expressed “a real cause of concern for India” at the duo’s recent dismal performance.
“Surya will be under pressure because he’s the captain and as a captain, your slot in the playing XI is secured automatically,” Pathan told JioHotstar.
“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 will defend their title at the T20 World Cup, which they will co-host with Sri Lanka starting February 7.
