BIG BREAKING: Suryakumar Yadav included in T20 World Cup 2026 only because of THIS huge factor - Reports

Suryakumar Yadav has scored 218 runs in the last 15 T20Is, but will captain India in the ICC T20 world Cup 2026.

Shubman Gill’s unexpected exclusion may have been the focal point of India‘s ICC T20 World Cup 2026 squad announcement, but Suryakumar Yadav and how barely he seems to have maintained his spot were the more illuminating undercurrent.

Given his prominence as India’s Test and ODI captain, Gill’s exclusion attracted notice. But the ruling also revealed how India’s T20 plans have very little room for mistake.

The selectors were not persuaded by Gill’s recent returns in the shortest format. He scored 291 runs at a strike rate just above 137 in 15 T20I innings, which was insufficient in a format that prioritizes explosiveness and urgency.

However, Shubman Gill wasn’t the only one who was struggling in the T20I format, as captain Suryakumar Yadav’s form was more concerning for the Indian team in the format. Yadav has scored only 218 runs across 19 innings at a strike rate of 123.2, his poorest returns in the format.

Suryakumar Yadav remains in India’s squad only because he’s the captain

A PTI report suggests the deciding factor was leadership rather than performance. It is evident that captaincy provided Suryakumar with short-term protection rather than unwavering support. Even that safety net seems brittle.

The unyielding atmosphere under head coach Gautam Gambhir, where prior accomplishments are given little weight, was highlighted in the same study.

“SKY, who by virtue of being the skipper, kept his place despite a horrific one-year run, while Gill suffered as his game didn’t seem as impactful as Abhishek Sharma’s. Anyone who knows Gambhir knows that for him, ‘winning is not everything but the only thing’. Today it was Gill, tomorrow it could be Suryakumar,” PTI report stated.

The selectors’ ongoing faith in Sanju Samson served to bolster their larger message. In the fifth and final T20I against South Africa, the wicketkeeper-batter was included in place of injured Shubman Gill and promptly validated the decision with a smooth 37 off 22 balls, demonstrating the kind of impact innings India are prioritizing.

The World Cup spot might be a chance for Suryakumar Yadav, but it also serves as a reminder that his future in India’s T20 team will ultimately depend on runs rather than duties.

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