Abhishek Sharma Backs Struggling Suryakumar Yadav, Shubman Gill

In a show of solidarity and leadership, young Indian opener Abhishek Sharma has publicly backed struggling captain Suryakumar Yadav and vice-captain Shubman Gill despite their alarming dip in form. As the Indian dressing room faces mounting pressure with the home T20 World Cup just weeks away, belief has become a precious commodity among the team’s leadership group.

A Year of Struggles for Senior Batters

Both senior players are experiencing their most difficult year in T20 internationals. Suryakumar Yadav has managed just 213 runs in 2025 at an average of 14.20 with a strike rate of 125.29, making him the lowest-averaging captain among full-member nations who have crossed 200 runs this year. His struggles intensified during the recent South Africa series, where he managed only 12 runs from 11 balls in the third T20I.

Shubman Gill’s performance has been marginally better but equally concerning. The opening batsman has scored 291 runs at an average of 24.25 with a strike rate of 137.26. Notably, Gill has failed to register even a single half-century since returning as India’s opener in September. His cautious 28 off 28 balls against South Africa epitomized his recent struggles.

Leadership’s Confidence in Recovery

Despite the gloomy numbers and back-to-back failures across the South Africa series, Abhishek Sharma’s unwavering support signals the importance of belief within the Indian camp. His conviction that quality and experience will ultimately shine through reflects a dressing room determined to back its leaders rather than abandon them during difficult times. With the tournament approaching, such confidence could prove decisive for India’s championship aspirations.