Shubman Gill's Rise Intensifies Pressure on Suryakumar Yadav to Reclaim Top Form

Mumbai: When the new poster boy of Indian cricket, Shubman Gill, was appointed vice-captain of the T20 team, it generated a positive buzz. For Suryakumar Yadav, though, the announcement carried a very different message: the selectors may have just put him on notice.Harsh? Perhaps. Unfair? Maybe. After all, this is a man with a winning percentage nearing 80 as captain. But when the chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar, announced the Asia Cup squad last month, the message coming out of BCCI’s ivory tower was unmistakable: a captain’s job isn’t just about winning series — the runs need to flow from his own bat.As captain, Surya featured in 22 matches, scoring 558 runs at an average of 26.57, with one century and four half-centuries. Those numbers pale in comparison to his blistering form before the captaincy crown weighed heavily on his head. Back then, in 61 games, free of leadership duties, he plundered 2,040 runs at an eye-popping average of 43.40, studded with three centuries and 17 fifties.Since that attractive 75 against Bangladesh in Hyderabad last Oct, the runs dried up. The five-match England series at home was a personal low point where he scored 28 with a highest of 21 and a couple of ducks to rub salt into the wounds.The whispers ahead of the Asia Cup selection were that Surya was told in no uncertain terms — fix your batting first.“His numbers dropping (while leading India) is a worry,” says former India opener Wasim Jaffer, who captained Surya in his early days in First-Class cricket with Mumbai.“Him not getting the runs is a concern. In the last few internationals he played, he was looking to score mostly behind square on the leg side. His shot selection was not up to the mark. But he has since worked on his game, and as we saw, he was a completely different player in the IPL. He started scoring on the offside as well. When Surya plays shots all around the wicket, there’s not much the bowlers can do. He is very dangerous. Then there isn’t margin for the bowlers. He has done well in the IPL; hopefully, that should continue.”The numbers back Jaffer’s words. Last season, Surya was in vintage mode — 717 runs in 16 innings at a sizzling strike rate of 168.But the Asia Cup is a different beast. It brings its own pressures — multiple teams, high stakes, and a captain’s plate overflowing with responsibility. For Surya, the challenge isn’t just about getting the batting order right or nailing the team combination. It’s about setting the tone while batting at whatever number he chooses to and proving he can still own the stage.Yet, there’s another subplot to deal with. There will be four captains in the XI, counting Surya. Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah have led India before. Gill, evidently, is being groomed for future leadership. Could this be a recipe for confusion? Jaffer doesn’t think so.“Every tour, every series, you have a vice-captain. It doesn’t mean the captain is under threat,” he says. “Selectors have made it clear — Bumrah can’t play every series, so he’s out. Hardik? They’re not looking at him for now. That leaves Shubman and maybe Shreyas when he’s back.“On the contrary, experienced heads like Hardik, Bumrah, and Shubman will only help in crunch moments. But at the end of the day, Surya must make the tough calls.” For a man who redefined T20 batting with his audacious stroke play, the question now is whether he can find his magic under the weight of expectation. The Asia Cup isn’t just another tournament for Suryakumar Yadav. It’s an exam — and the world is waiting to see if SKY emerges from the shadow of doubts.“Every tournament has its own challenges,” Jaffer explains. “This is a multi-nation cup. Before this, it was just bilateral series. India bounced back well to win the series after losing matches to South Africa and England. It’s not that he hasn’t been under pressure before, but this will be different. Knowing him, he won’t overthink. He’ll deal with it.”Jaffer believes Surya’s personality makes him suited for the role. “He’s done this job for a while now. He’s comfortable at this level. He’s a good communicator and gets the message across.”