Former cricketer shuts down Suryakumar Yadav vs Shubman Gill debate, ‘There is a difference’
A former cricketer has weighed in on the debate around Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill, urging fans to stop comparisons and appreciate their distinct roles in Indian cricket.
Last Updated: 03.05 PM, Dec 23, 2025
India's former cricketer Mohammad Kaif ended the comparision between Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill stating that the skipper has proven his skills in the past. Suryakumar has failed to perform in the past one year but the team has done well in the T20Is. But there have been questions raised against Surya's inclusion in the team without performance.
Recently, the selectors backed Sanju Samson as an opener and dropped Shubman Gill from the T20I squad due to failed performances in the recent series. The fans have shown outrage on social media, comparing both SKY and Gill's performance. Hence, ending the debate, Kaif mentioned that Surya has proved that he's a 'match-winner in T20s'.
“There is a difference in the cases of Gill and Surya. Surya has been a proven match-winner in T20s. He has been on top of the ICC rankings and won games as well. We can't compare the two here. Gill had to prove himself in this format in the Indian team,” Kaif said on YouTube.
“Take Kohli for example, he did not score for those two years during COVID but because he had a great record and a match-winner for 10 years or so, you backed him on his reputation and he got out of that phase and started scoring again. Surya is also in this category. Gill is nowhere close to Surya in this format. Saying you should remove both if they are not in form is not right here. Surya has earned this,” he added.
He has to be backed: Mohammad Kaif
Mohammad Kaif has backed Suryakumar Yadav and urged the BCCI to not drop him because of his recent performances. SKY has been an incredible skipper and has led the team efficiently. Moreover, before getting the captaincy, he has performed brilliantly for the team and that is the reason why he was given the leadership role.
“He cannot be dropped. In Surya's case, he has to be backed. You need to focus on where he is making mistakes and why he is not able to score. Is it because of the captaincy? Is that pressure getting to him? That is the question,” Kaif said.
“He is a solid player in this format. The question is how he can get out of this phase. He needs to assess whether he is putting his energy elsewhere and whether his technique is exposed. He has to find these answers,” he added.
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