Argus News - Form of Surya & Gill, Ignoring Sanju & Rinku: Gambhir’s Selection Gamble Exposes India in T20Is

Bhubaneswar, Dec 12: India’s T20I setup finds itself at a crossroads as two of its most gifted batters — skipper Suryakumar Yadav and vice-captain Shubman Gill, continue to grapple with inconsistent form on the international stage.

Once seen as the pillars of India’s evolving white‑ball future, both players have struggled to convert their potential into sustained impact in recent months, raising concerns ahead of the T20 World Cup, which is in a couple of months’ time.

Gill, who entered the T20I arena with a reputation for classical stroke play and adaptability, has found it difficult to replicate his IPL dominance at the international level. Across his last 15 T20I innings, Gill has averaged under 25 with a strike rate hovering around 120 — numbers that fall short of the explosive standards expected from a modern top-order batter. His powerplay returns have been particularly underwhelming, with a boundary percentage significantly lower than his peers.

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Experts have continuously raised questions over Sanju Samson’s omission despite his splendid numbers as an opener. Sanju has 512 runs from 14 innings at an average of 39.38 and a strike-rate of 182.20, including three centuries and a half century. So leaving the wicketkeeper-batter on the bench, only to promote or slot in Shubman Gill, has attracted criticism from fans as well as cricket fraternity.

And playing Samson at No.5 or 6, is completely a brainless move by head coach Gautam Gambhir. Sanju has only 138 runs in 8 innings (SR: 127.77) while batting at No.5, while scored 12 when he batted at No.6 only once in his career.

This move by Gambhir has not only gambling with Sanju Samson’s career, but with Rinku Singh’s as well. As Sanju is out of contention, Jitesh Sharma is playing as the wicket-keeper as well as a finisher, which keeping Rinku out of the team. Only to fit-in Shubman Gill, Gambhir has gambled the careers of an experienced and proven wicket-keeper-opener, and also of a rising star, a proven finisher in Rinku.

On the other hand, Suryakumar Yadav, widely celebrated as one of the most innovative T20 batters in the world, has also endured a surprising dip. Despite his reputation as India’s “Mr. 360,” SKY has managed only 201 runs from 17 innings in 2025 at an average of 14.35, and a strike-rate of 126.41. The drop is especially visible in the middle overs, where he previously dominated spin with ease.

The India skipper is struggling with poor form for a couple of years now. In 2024, Surya had scored 429 runs from 17 innings at an average of 26.81. At least, his strike-rate was above 150 (151.59). So the year 2025 is definitely a year to forget for the India skipper.

If we decipher his performance going by his batting position, especially in No.4 and No.3. The Mumbai lad has 1640 runs in 50 innings at an average of 39.12 and a strike-rate of 166.83 while batting at No.4 — his best position. At No.3, he has accumulated 856 runs from 31 innings — AVG of 32.92, SR of 159.40. In 2025, he has batted at No.3 quite regularly.

And with the T20 World Cup is on the horizon, how the gamble by Gambhir would pay off, only time will tell. Both Surya and Gill would definitely look for getting some runs under their belts going into the tournament, which will be played in India and Sri Lanka.

The struggles of both batters come at a time when India is seeking stability and aggression at the top and middle order. With major tournaments approaching, the team management faces a delicate balancing act — backing proven match‑winners while also exploring in‑form alternatives.

Gill’s challenge appears to stem from adapting his tempo to the demands of T20Is. While technically sound, his reluctance to take early risks has often put pressure on the middle order. SKY, on the other hand, seems to be battling rhythm and shot selection, with bowlers increasingly targeting his strengths and forcing errors.

Despite the slump, both players possess the pedigree and skill to bounce back. Their track records in domestic and franchise cricket remain exceptional, and India will hope that a return to familiar conditions or a confidence‑boosting knock can reignite their spark.