IND vs SA: India walked into the second T20I against South Africa at the Mullanpur Stadium in Chandigarh on Thursday hoping for a strong response, but
even before the innings settled, two big blows reopened a debate that has been simmering for months.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav and vice-captain Shubman Gill-two of India's most prominent white-ball batters-once again found themselves at the centre of criticism as their lean patch in T20Is extended further.
Gill's dismissal triggered immediate frustration among fans. Facing his very first delivery, the opener nicked a good-length ball from Lungi Ngidi straight to Reeza Hendricks, departing for a golden duck.
The dismissal resembled a classical Test-match setup-hitting the deck, seaming away, drawing a tentative push. But the reaction outside the field was far from nuanced. Supporters vented on social media, questioning Gill's rhythm, intent and suitability for the format.
The 25-year-old's recent numbers offer little defence. Across his last 14 T20I innings, Gill has managed only 263 runs, averaging 23.90 with a strike rate of 142.93-respectable on paper, but inconsistent in execution. What worries fans more is his tendency to start slow and fall early, disrupting India's top-order stability.
Suryakumar Yadav, who departed for (5) in today's match is enduring a slump that contrasts sharply with the dominance he once displayed in the format. While still regarded as one of India's most gifted T20 batters, his recent output paints a different picture. Over his last 20 T20I innings, the skipper has collected a mere 227 runs, averaging 13.35 at a strike rate of 119.47-far below his own lofty standards.
With both captain and vice-captain struggling simultaneously, the criticism has intensified. Fans argue that extended poor form from senior players puts added pressure on the middle order and forces India into early recovery mode too often. Others believe the team management must consider rotations and bolder selections if results continue to dip.
Here are few of the reactions-
🇮🇳 Is there a "reservation quota" for Captain and Vice-Captain in Team India?
- Cricket With RS (@badkebhai) December 11, 2025
- Still waiting to see Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill deliver in a high-pressure match. 🤐 pic.twitter.com/4vWvsVMT18
''I think anyone can understand that Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav are the weakness in Indian team'', a fan wrote.
The absolute worst part of India’s T20 setup right now?
None other than Captain Suryakumar Yadav and his loyal deputy, Vice-Captain Overhyped Shubman Gill 😡🔥
Quick, someone remind me: when was the last time SKY actually scored a fifty in a T20I? I’ll wait… ⏳🤔… pic.twitter.com/uo2NqnNdqX- Er.Rajiv (@Rajiv_siait) December 11, 2025
''Drop both Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill, neither deserves a place in this team when players like Samson, Jaiswal, Iyer, and Gaikwad aren't even getting into the XI. At the very least, if you want to persist with the captain, drop the vice-captain'', another user expressed.
People who don't deserve a place in T20 setup of India:
- ARKumar (@blackArt2025) December 11, 2025
Suryakumar Yadav
Shubman Gill
Gautam Gambhir
Who does deserve in: Rinku Singh#BCCI #cricket #T20Cricket #INDvsSA #JioHotstar
As the five-match series progresses, the spotlight on Suryakumar and Gill will only get brighter. For now, the calls from fans are loud and clear: India's leadership duo needs runs-and quickly.
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