India took a 2-1 lead in the five-match T20I series against South Africa after winning the third game on Sunday, December 14, at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. However, captain Suryakumar Yadav and his deputy Shubman Gill's form remains a concern for the Men in Blue.
While Shubman scored a scratchy 28 off as many deliveries, Suryakumar managed an 11-ball 12. Neither of them has registered a half-century in T20I cricket this year. In the first two T20Is against South
Africa, Shubman and Suryakumar scored four and 17 runs, respectively.
While some fans want them to be replaced, former South African captain Shaun Pollock opined that India will persist with them, especially with the T20 World Cup commencing in two months.
"I don't know if it'll ever get to a point where they have to be among the runs. It's just about whether you continue to back them or not. There might be a case where they say you guys are secure, you'll start, but we are going to have a look at Sanju Samson," Pollock said on Cricbuzz.
"But I can't see them dropping those two at any stage. If they've backed them this far, because it's been over 30 innings combined without a 50, in normal terms, you would have said we need a change. But the stature they've and the positions they hold in the team as captain and vice captain, it's not going to change," he added.
You just feel at this stage, it's scrambled' - Shaun Pollock on Shubman Gill's abysmal form
Pollock explained that the Dharamsala surface was tricky for batting, and it made Shubman's task all the more difficult. While fellow opener Abhishek Sharma enthralled the capacity crowd with a blistering 35 off 18 balls, Shubman struggled to find his timing.
"It was one of those days where you think this is going to be the day. Abhishek has got us off to a fast start, and I can just bat. But it was not a belter where you can just bat and score runs easily. It was asking questions, and when you are not in good touch, those questions are difficult to answer," said Pollock (via the aforementioned source).
"When you are batting well, your brain is free. You almost just watch the ball and react. You just feel at this stage, it's scrambled. There are a lot of bees buzzing around in there about what I should or shouldn't do. Whereas when you are confident, you just watch the ball and react," he added.
Despite the shortcomings, India chased down a paltry 118-run target in 15.5 overs, with seven wickets to spare. The fourth T20I is set to be played in Lucknow on Wednesday, December 17.
