India will defend their T20 World Cup title in the 2026 tournament starting in February, but they do not have a captain and vice-captain in place.
Published December 12, 2025
India Twenty20 captain Suryakumar Yadav and deputy Shubman Gill have continued to struggle, but the team management has backed them to get back into form in time for the home World Cup early next year.
Opener Gill, who returned from a neck injury, has won 4-0 in the first two T20 matches of the ongoing home series against South Africa. The right-handed pitcher has pitched 17 innings in this format since the last half-century.
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“I thought it was a good ball (to be sent off) today,” assistant coach Ryan ten Dochate said after Gill, who has been in great form in the Indian Premier League (IPL), fell for a first-ball duck against South Africa on Thursday. “That’s what can happen when you’re not doing well.”
“But we also know the class. If you look at his IPL record, he has piled up 700 runs, 600 runs, 800 runs, 600 runs.
“We believe in his class and we believe he will do well.”
Suryakumar, a T20 specialist, was in an even worse situation. In his last 20 innings in this format, he scored 227 runs at 13.35, with zero fifties.
“It’s exactly the same with Surya,” Ten Dochate said. “Personally, I think if you back such quality players and quality leaders, they will deliver good results.
“I can understand from the outside looking in that it’s a cause for concern, but I have absolute confidence in both of them to do well for us at the right time.”
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan said the pair’s recent poor form is “a real concern for India”.
“There will be pressure on Surya because he is the captain. If he is the captain, he automatically gets a spot in the playing XI,” Pathan told JioHotstar.
“As a player, if you haven’t scored in a year, you’re under pressure. We have to get him back in shape for the World Cup. He needs the right batting position and better shot selection.”
India will defend their title in the T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted with Sri Lanka from February 7.
