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“I have got absolute faith…”: Doeschate backs Gill and SKY for a mighty comeback

Poulomi Chakraborty

Doeschate reflects on Gill-Surya's struggle (Source: @ImTanujSingh/x.com)Doeschate reflects on Gill-Surya's struggle (Source: @ImTanujSingh/x.com)

With the T20 World Cup around the corner, Team India’s T20I form is raising alarm bells. After a good start to the T20I series against South Africa, the horrific 51-run defeat in Mullanpur exposed their woes on the big stage.

Amidst all, Shubman Gill and captain Suryakumar Yadav’s prolonged struggle in the shortest format has become the center of criticism. But cutting through the noise, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has come out strongly in their defense, backing the duo and expressing full faith in their comeback.

Doeschate doubles down on Gill’s big comeback

After a dominating ODI series victory against South Africa, Team India started the five-match T20I series on a positive note, but the rhythm was interrupted in the second T20I. Facing the Proteas in Mullanpur, the Men in Blue faced a horrific 51-run defeat. A wayward bowling effort followed by a dramatic batting collapse led them towards the heartbreaking defeat.

With the T20I World Cup 2026 commencing soon, captain Suryakumar Yadav and vice-captain Shubman Gill’s current form is creating buzz. In the second match, Gill walked away on a duck, and the criticism went louder. But after the defeat, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate stepped forward, backing Gill wholeheartedly and expressing strong faith in his comeback.

“I saw some good signs of a change in mentality on the back end of that Australian tour (in Shubman). Even with these two dismissals in this series, in the first game we asked the guys to go out and attack on the power play, and the wicket was not very great at Cuttack. So I will let him go off with that one. Today, he got out to a great ball. This can happen when you are short on form,” he said.

Doeschate refuses to give up on Surya’s spark

Adding to this, Captain Suryakumar Yadav’s T20I form came under scrutiny as his long stand struggle has now become a massive concern. In the previous 23 innings, captain Surya failed to score a single fifty, and the last dismissal in a four-ball five grabbed the attention. In the post-match conference, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate brushed aside the criticism, backing Surya’s class.

“It’s exactly the same with Surya…I think you back quality players and quality leaders like that, and they will come good. I can understand from the outside it looks like a concern, but I have got absolute faith in both of them coming good at the right time for us,” he added.

With the series now locked at 1-1 after the recent setback, the five-match battle is heating up. As the next match is scheduled for December 14, both sides will be eyeing a glorious victory to take the lead in the series.