Brisbane, November 9, 2025 - Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav has thrown his weight behind Shubman Gill, defending the young opener's strike rate, which has been a topic of much discussion recently. Yadav's comments came after India secured a 2-1 series victory against Australia, following the final T20I in Brisbane being abandoned due to rain.
Gill, who made his T20I comeback during the Asia Cup 2025, has faced scrutiny over his scoring rate in the format. In the fourth T20I against Australia, he scored 46 off 39 balls, a contribution that helped India win but also drew criticism for its pacing. However, Gill silenced some of those critics in the final T20I at Brisbane, smashing an unbeaten 29 off just 16 balls, including six fours, at a strike rate of 181.25.
Speaking after the series, Suryakumar Yadav praised Gill's aggressive partnership with fellow opener Abhishek Sharma. He described their chemistry as "fire meeting fire," emphasizing their mutual understanding and adaptability at the crease. "They both are looking to match each other's strike rates. It's a combination of fire and fire," Suryakumar said. "When the wicket is good, they go all out, and when it's tough, they adjust accordingly. You saw in the previous match how Gill adapted to the conditions. Their communication and understanding are excellent".
Yadav also addressed Gill's knock in the fourth T20I, stating that the wicket was challenging to bat on. He highlighted the importance of adapting to different conditions, noting that Gill demonstrated great maturity in reading the game. "In my opinion, if the wicket is a bit difficult, then it is important to adapt," Suryakumar explained. "In the last game, it was important to read the wicket, and these two did just that... Both Abhishek and Gill have good communication. It is just a case of adapting; they complement each other well".
Abhishek Sharma, who was named Player of the Series for his impressive 163 runs in five matches, echoed his captain's sentiments, lauding Gill's awareness and their long-standing bond. "It's just fire and fire," Abhishek said. "We've been playing together since U-12 days, so there's great understanding. I know which bowlers he's targeting and vice versa. He also guides me on which shots to play". He added, "No, I know his game very well — which bowlers he'll attack. He knows mine too. Sometimes he even tells me, 'Play a few balls carefully, then go for that shot.' We've been roommates since childhood, and that understanding really helps".
Suryakumar also spoke about the team's overall growth and camaraderie. "I feel lucky to lead a side full of talented players with different skill sets," he said. "The boys enjoy being on the field together, and our strategy over the past six to eight months has been consistent. The bond is getting stronger, and the young bowlers are learning a lot".
Gill has been under pressure to perform since returning to India's T20I setup, especially after a relatively quiet Asia Cup 2025. While he finished the T20I series against Australia as the second-highest run-scorer with 132 runs, his strike rate of 136.08 was still a talking point. However, Suryakumar's strong support and emphasis on adaptability suggest that the team management has faith in Gill's evolving T20 game.
