New Delhi: India clinched a thrilling seven-wicket victory over South Africa in the third T20I, bowling them out for 117 and chasing the target with 25 balls to spare, taking a 2-1 series lead. Yet, the spotlight fell on skipper Suryakumar Yadav and opener Shubman Gill’s ongoing batting struggles ahead of the T20 World Cup.
Gill, who replaced Sanju Samson as opener, has managed just 291 runs in his last 15 innings at a strike rate of 137.3, facing heavy trolling after scoring a laboured 28 off 28 balls here.
A childhood friend, Abhishek Sharma, came to his defence, urging fans to trust the duo. “Have faith—these two will win matches for India in the World Cup and this series too,” Abhishek said. On Gill, he added, “I’ve played with him since age of 12; he can score against any team in any condition. Everyone will soon see that.”
Suryakumar, too, addressed his lean patch — scores of 12, 5, and 12 in the series. “I’ve been batting brilliantly in nets. Runs will come when needed; it’s not that I’m out of form, I just haven’t converted,” he stated in the post-match presentation. He praised the team’s comeback from the previous defeat: “Cricket teaches you a lot. What we did today was superb. We’ll enjoy the win and plan for Lucknow tomorrow.”
As pressure mounts pre-World Cup, Abhishek’s backing and SKY’s confidence signal resilience in the Indian camp.