NEW DELHI: India's T20 World Cup plans are facing a delicate balancing act as concerns grow over the poor form of skipper Suryakumar Yadav and vice-captain Shubman Gill. Despite their struggles, the national selection committee is not expected to spring any surprises when it finalises the 15-member squad for next year's T20 World Cup in Mumbai on Saturday.

The BCCI, however, retains the option to tweak the squad right up until the tournament begins on February 7. A similar move was seen earlier this year during the Champions Trophy, when Varun Chakravarthy was drafted in for Yashasvi Jaiswal after conditions in Dubai favoured spin-friendly surfaces.

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Although there has been no official word from the board, the upcoming World Cup on home soil could prove to be a defining moment for Suryakumar's leadership. At 35, and after a prolonged dip in form over the past year, questions are being quietly raised about his future as India's T20 captain beyond the tournament.

Prolonged lean patch

Suryakumar's numbers have been particularly worrying, with a lean patch stretching nearly 14 months and 24 matches. For now, his captaincy appears to be the primary factor keeping him firmly in the squad, even as pressure mounts for a turnaround on the biggest stage.

The selection committee is also set to name the T20 squad for the New Zealand series, which is expected to mirror the group chosen for the T20 World Cup.

Gill under scrutiny

At present, no spots appear to be open for competition, though Shubman Gill's place continues to be closely scrutinised. Meanwhile, in-form Yashasvi Jaiswal remains on standby, waiting for an opportunity should the selectors decide to make a change.

It remains to be seen if the selectors name Jaiswal as an extra player for the New Zealand series just to observe him in case he is needed during the mega-event to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

The reserve opener's slot currently belongs to Sanju Samson, who was wrongfully displaced from his position when the selection committee and an important member of the team think-tank decided to fix something that wasn't broken.

Had the T20 World Cup been six months away, there was every possibility of the selection committee looking at alternative options for leadership.

However, what has worked for Suryakumar is an early T20 World Cup and form deserting his deputy Gill, who was being seen as the all-format captain after taking over the reins of the Test and ODI sides.

But with only five games left before the opening World Cup match against the United States of America in Mumbai on February 7, no selection panel would want to break the continuity.

Jaiswal's conundrum

While there is a good chance that the 15 selected against South Africa for the home assignment will also play against New Zealand and subsequently the T20 World Cup, Jaiswal's name is almost certain to come up as he has shown himself to be a more versatile T20 player compared to both Gill and Samson.

But with Samson being the second keeper now (Jitesh Sharma is the first choice stumper and finisher) and Gill being promoted as vice-captain, it is difficult for Jaiswal to break into the 15 as he doesn't fit any other role specific slot.

The only other weak link in the 15 is Washington Sundar, who hasn't yet shown any pyrotechnics in 57 T20Is. But in this format, he is more of bowling all-rounder.

On paper, the side looks unbeatable with 14 proven IPL superstars (save Washington) but what is likely to stick out like a sore thumb is that two out of top three batters are horribly out of form.

India Likely 15: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Sanju Samson (wk), Washington Sundar

Likely Stand Bys (5/6): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, Shahbaz Ahmed/Nitish Kumar Reddy, Prasidh Krishna.

(With PTI Inputs)