“That issue does not exist with Gill” - Mohammad Kaif explains why Suryakumar Yadav’s form is a bigger concern ahead of T20 World Cup 2026

Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has opined that Suryakumar Yadav’s form is a bigger concern than Shubman Gill’s, as the team can find a new opener but not a captain. His remarks came following India’s 51-run loss in the second T20I against South Africa on December 11 in Mullanpur.

Gill was dismissed for a golden duck, while Suryakumar fell for five as India were bowled out for 162 while chasing 214. During a YouTube Live session on Friday, December 12, Kaif stated that Surya’s return to form is crucial because the team cannot drop him.

He will play regardless of poor performances, as the team cannot replace the captain just months before the 2026 T20 World Cup. The 45-year-old also noted that this issue does not apply to Gill, as he can be replaced by Sanju Samson or Yashasvi Jaiswal. Mohammad Kaif said:

“The biggest concern between Gill and Surya is Surya. You can find a replacement for Gill; if Gill is out, you can bring in Sanju or call Jaiswal later. But Surya is going to play no matter what. Even if he performs poorly, you will not remove Surya and bring in another captain. That issue does not exist with Gill; if you drop Gill, you can replace him with another player. But Surya will stay. He is the one who will lead you in the World Cup.”

“That is why Surya has become a bigger concern. His form matters because you have to play the World Cup in a month and a half, and Surya is a big match T20 player. He is also the captain. To win a World Cup, his form is essential. When a captain is scoring runs, his mind works better too. Remember, with good form, you also become a better captain. This is the connection with form. So I feel Surya’s return to form is absolutely necessary,” he added.

In 2025, Gill has scored just 263 runs in 14 innings at an average of 23.90 and a strike rate of 142.93, while Suryakumar managed only 201 runs in 17 innings at an average of 14.35 and a strike rate of 126.41, with neither batter registering a single fifty.

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“His problem is poking at deliveries outside off stump” - Mohammad Kaif identifies key area for Suryakumar Yadav to work on

In the same discussion, Mohammad Kaif noted that, taking the last two T20Is into account, Suryakumar Yadav has a tendency to poke at deliveries outside off stump. Kaif added that if the right-handed batter were playing Test cricket, he would likely get out in the same way Virat Kohli used to. Kaif said:

“How will he do that? Look at the issues. Take the last two matches for example. How did he get out? In Cuttack, Ngidi bowled a ball on his leg side. Anything coming toward his pads or leg side area, he flicks. We always praise Surya, saying no one plays the flick better. But as soon as the ball was swung from outside off toward that same area, he tried to play the leg side shot, got stuck, and the ball popped up.”

“In yesterday’s match, look at the ball outside off. He poked at it and got out. His problem is poking at deliveries outside off stump. If Surya played Test cricket, the way we always talk about Virat Kohli getting caught in slips outside off, Suryakumar would also be dismissed the same way. He too has a bottom hand dominant technique, he plays mostly on one side. Bowl outside off, he chases it,” he added.

Mohammad Kaif continued:

“Somewhere, technically, because he plays T20 and because he plays on very flat pitches, his weaknesses do not get exposed as much. But if you take just the last two matches, both times he got out on deliveries outside off. One was full, one was hard length. Sometimes, when you get a break, you need to use that time to work on technique. We have seen many times in the IPL that no one is a better leg side player than him. So now he has to work on this.”

Suryakumar Yadav is set to return to action on Sunday, December 14, when India face South Africa in the third T20I in Dharamsala.