Shreyas Iyer named India T20I captain after major BCCI shake-up

MUMBAI: Indian cricket has entered a bold new chapter as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a sweeping leadership change in the T20I setup, appointing Shreyas Iyer as the new captain, replacing Suryakumar Yadav.

The decision comes after Suryakumar’s inconsistent run of form following India’s triumphant ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign. Despite leading India to the title earlier this year, his recent performances fell sharply, managing just 242 runs in nine World Cup innings at a modest strike rate, followed by a disappointing IPL 2026 season.

In contrast, Iyer’s rise has been powered by consistency and leadership maturity. After a long absence from the T20I side since 2023, he returned with strong domestic and franchise performances. He captained Kolkata Knight Riders to an IPL title in 2024 and earlier guided Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings to finals in different seasons, strengthening his reputation as a proven leader.

His batting form has also been exceptional, scoring heavily across IPL 2025 and 2026 with strike rates among the highest in the league, making him a natural choice for India’s next T20 era.

Adding excitement to the squad overhaul, 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has earned his maiden T20I call-up after a record-breaking IPL season, where he dominated bowlers with fearless stroke play and remarkable consistency.

India will begin the Iyer era with two T20Is in Ireland on June 26 and 28, followed by a high-profile five-match series in England.

Meanwhile, pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is expected to return for the upcoming Asian Games 2026 squad, while Mohammed Siraj is set to miss out as selectors reshape the bowling unit.

With fresh leadership, young talent, and bold selections, India’s T20 future now enters a thrilling and unpredictable phase.

India T20I squad for Ireland, England series: Shreyas Iyer (c), Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma (vc), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Mohammed Siraj, Prince Yadav.

India T20I squad for Asian Games 2026: Shreyas Iyer (c), Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma (vc), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Jasprit Bumrah.