"A Real Cause of Concern": Irfan Pathan Sounds Alarm on Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav's Form Ahead of 2026 T20 World Cup

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New Delhi, Dec 12: Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has delivered a sharp assessment of Team India's top-order issues after the 2nd T20I defeat to South Africa in New Chandigarh, placing the spotlight firmly on the worrying form of Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav.

Speaking on JioHotstar's Cricket Live, Pathan dissected both dismissals with a technical lens and warned that India cannot afford prolonged slumps from two of their most important T20 batters ahead of next year's World Cup.

India, chasing 214, lost both Gill and SKY inside the powerplay - a setback that left the chase crippled from the start. Gill, already under scrutiny after a string of low scores in 2025, fell for a golden duck to Lungi Ngidi, while Suryakumar continued his year-long struggle for consistency.

Irfan Pathan on Gill: "He looked stuck"

Gill's dismissal-prodding at a length ball that shaped away-prompted Pathan to elaborate on why the young opener is struggling far beyond one delivery.

Pathan explained that Ngidi has now dismissed Gill twice in three overs across the series, giving away just four runs in the Powerplay, and that the numbers reflect deeper technical hesitation:

"Shubman Gill will say he got a very good ball and looked stuck at the crease. About Gill's dismissal, the ball from Lungi Ngidi was top quality. The angle he bowled from was excellent. But if Gill was in form, he would have played that ball easily. He is not in form."

Pathan added that Gill's repeated failures put both the player and the management in a difficult position, and said, "The runs not coming from Gill's bat is a bad sign and increases the pressure on him and the team management. They will be asking what to do. This situation should not get worse."

India's decision to continue backing Gill at the top has already sparked debate, especially with Sanju Samson, in outstanding domestic form, waiting on the sidelines. On Suryakumar Yadav Pathan said, "Your role is secure as captain, but the runs must come."

Pathan also provided clear insight into Suryakumar's struggles, linking them not just to form but to specific technical flaws. "For captain Suryakumar Yadav, I felt he needs to focus on his offside play. He was completely out of position when he got out," the Baroda cricketer added further.

He noted that Surya has developed a pattern of getting dismissed while trying to whip straight balls to the leg side - a risky option when out of touch. The 41-year-old asserted, "Surya will be under pressure because he's the captain and as a captain, your slot in the playing eleven is secured automatically. As a player, if you haven't scored runs in a year, you are under pressure."

Pathan said the way forward for Surya is to simplify his approach, "When you're not scoring, you should try to play in the off side and in front. He has the skill to bring the ball in front of his eyes and use the pace - that is how he will start scoring again."

Surya's dip in form has now stretched for months, making his performances one of India's biggest concerns.

Samson's name re-enters the conversation - but with caution

Pathan acknowledged the rising chorus demanding Sanju Samson's return but warned that dropping Gill abruptly and recalling Samson cold could also backfire:

"If the runs still don't come, you can't just bring Sanju Samson back and expect him to perform, if he is also rusty. If they go back to Samson, it becomes very important for him to score runs."

With Samson currently in sparkling touch in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the question for India is not if but when he gets another opportunity.

What Irfan's assessment means for India

Pathan's analysis - balanced, technical and rooted in match context - highlights three major challenges for India:

• Gill's extended lean patch that now requires immediate management clarity
• Suryakumar's loss of rhythm and the need for a simplified game plan
• The unavoidability of selection pressures as Samson continues scoring

As India head to Dharamshala for the third T20I, the spotlight on its misfiring top order has only intensified. With South Africa gaining momentum and India searching for stability, the remainder of the series may shape key decisions for the World Cup year ahead.