Suryakumar was the reason behind Gill's ouster from T20 World Cup, Vinay Kumar's big claim

Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, former Indian pacer Vinay Kumar has a piece of advice for captain Suryakumar Yadav. With India set to open their campaign against the USA on February 7, Yadav's recent dip in international form has become a point of concern for the team management. Despite being one of the world's most prolific hitters and coming off a stellar IPL 2025 season with the Mumbai Indians, his contributions to the national middle order over the past year have been inconsistent.

Vinay Kumar believes the solution lies in a tactical shift regarding Yadav’s batting position. He noted that as a leader, the 35-year-old has frequently demoted himself in the order to provide opportunities to emerging players and newcomers. Kumar argues that this selflessness has backfired, pushing the star batter too far down the lineup and disrupting his natural rhythm and impact on the game.

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As a captain, he has to give others the cushion: Vinay Kumar

To rectify this before the World Cup, Kumar suggests that Yadav must view himself strictly as a top-order specialist rather than a middle-order anchor. Contending that Yadav is most effective at number 3, the former cricketer warned that batting at number 4 or lower limits his potential. He urged the captain to reclaim his spot at the top of the order during the ongoing T20I series

"It is important for any player to bat at his best position. Surya plays well in the top order. But as a captain, he has to give others the cushion and take the hit. Your role is not easy as a captain. You have to put others in the front, give them the cushion, and somewhere you take the hit. But this bilateral series is not like the World Cup. It is important to play in your best place," Vinay Kumar told Star Sports.

Kumar has proposed a specific batting blueprint for India to utilize during the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. Since Shubman Gill was omitted from the T20I squad, Kumar suggests a dynamic opening pair of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma. Under this arrangement, he believes captain Yadav should occupy the pivotal number three spot, with Tilak Varma following at number four to provide stability and aggression in the top order.

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If Gill is not there, the probability of Surya playing at three increases: Vinay Kumar

Addressing potential availability issues, Kumar identified Shreyas Iyer as the ideal contingency for the number four position should Varma’s injury recovery delay his start to the tournament. Ultimately, Kumar views Gill's absence not just as a roster change, but as a strategic opening for Yadav to move up the order. He argues that reclaiming a top-three spot is the best way for the captain to rediscover his rhythm and lead the team effectively during the global showcase

"Maybe that is a reason why Shubman Gill is not in the team. If Gill is not there, the probability of Surya playing at three increases. Sanju can open with Abhishek, Surya can come at three, and Tilak at four. If Tilak is not fit, then Shreyas can take his spot. I think any player will think about when they got success, at which number they batted, how they batted, and what the mindset was. I think he will consider all this and choose the number. There is no scope for mistakes in the T20 World Cup", Kumar concluded.