While India celebrated a comfortable seven-wicket victory over South Africa in the third T20I in Dharamsala, securing a 2-1 lead in the five-match series, the spotlight remains fixed on the troubling form slump of two key batters: skipper Suryakumar Yadav and vice-captain Shubman Gill. For the third consecutive match, the duo looked uncharacteristically scratchy and failed to make a significant impact.
Suryakumar’s Extended Fifty Drought
The form crisis surrounding Suryakumar Yadav cannot be overlooked, as the seasoned player has failed to register a single half-century for India in T20 Internationals throughout the entire 2025 calendar year. His drought now extends to 21 innings without a fifty in the T20I format.
- Third T20I Performance: Suryakumar managed just 12 runs off 11 balls before his dismissal.
- Dismal National Form: Despite having an incredibly productive IPL 2025 season where he scored over 700 runs for the Mumbai Indians, his form for the national side has been dismal, with his T20I average standing at less than 15 this calendar year.
Dismissal and Gavaskar’s Advice
In the third T20I, Suryakumar’s dismissal came while attempting his frequently used pick-up shot. The batter tried to hit a maximum over the fine leg boundary, but failed to connect with any timing, resulting in a simple catch taken by Ottneil Baartman off the bowling of Lungi Ngidi.
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar did not mince words in his commentary, urging Suryakumar to immediately shelve the shot until he returns to form:
“It has been a very, very productive shot for him. Now, when you are not in form, it’s only gone up in the air instead of going the distance, and well inside the boundary. So maybe, until he starts to get going, he should look to keep that shot in cold storage,” Gavaskar advised. “Because it’s getting him out and India doesn’t require Suryakumar Yadav scoring only 12 runs.”
Gill’s Struggle and India’s Win Summary
Concerns also remain over Shubman Gill’s form. While he played a key role in the chase, his knock of 28 off 28 balls was slow and scratchy, lacking his usual fluency.
Despite the batting wobbles at the top, India comfortably chased down the target due to a superb bowling performance:
- Bowling Dominance: India bundled out South Africa for a low total of 117 after opting to bowl first.
- Wicket Takers: Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, and Arshdeep Singh all returned with two wickets each, with Hardik Pandya also securing his 100th T20I scalp.
- South Africa’s Lone Fighter: Skipper Aiden Markram was the only visitor to show resistance, hitting a lone half-century.
- The Chase: India chased the total down with seven wickets in hand and 25 balls to spare, thanks to Abhishek Sharma’s quickfire 35 and Gill’s anchoring knock.
The pressure is now mounting on the Indian captain to find form ahead of the all-important T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to be played in India and Sri Lanka in February-March next year. The fourth T20I between India and South Africa is set for Wednesday, December 17, at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.