New Delhi, 14 December (H.S.): Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif cautioned on Sunday that Suryakumar Yadav's underwhelming form poses a graver concern for the team than Shubman Gill's ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, set to unfold from February 7 to March 8 across eight venues in India and Sri Lanka.

Kaif highlighted on X that while India boasts multiple openers, replacing a designated captain remains untenable.Suryakumar, India's T20 skipper, has endured a lean year with 201 runs across 19 matches at an average of 14.35 and strike rate of 126.41, devoid of a single half-century.

Gill fares marginally better in 14 T20Is, amassing 263 runs at 23.90 average and 142.93 strike rate, yet both have faltered in the ongoing five-match South Africa series locked at 1-1.In the initial encounters, Gill scored 4 and a golden duck, while Suryakumar managed 12 and 5, underscoring their pressing need for resurgence in the third T20I at Dharamsala on Sunday evening.

With ample opportunities remaining, both batsmen confront a pivotal window to reclaim rhythm before the global showdown.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar