Captaincy itself has never appeared to be the main stumbling block, but Suryakumar Yadav’s T20 numbers have reportedly slipped for a long stretch. That sustained dip in returns seems to have worn down the confidence of selectors and team management. With his tenure as India’s T20I skipper now under threat, the bigger puzzle is who takes over next—especially with form, timing, and long-term planning all in the mix.
Quick facts
- Suryakumar Yadav is reportedly set to be removed as captain of India’s T20I team.
- Shreyas Iyer is described as the most “obvious choice,” despite his last India T20I appearance dating to December 2023.
- India head coach Gautam Gambhir is said to be not fully convinced about Iyer getting the next captaincy role.
- Tilak Varma has backing from members of the selection group, with age viewed as an advantage for the future.
- Tilak was made captain for the A series in Sri Lanka to test his captaincy credentials.
- Gambhir’s preferred option is reported to be Sanju Samson.
- Samson’s T20 World Cup run included 321 runs in five innings at an average of 80.25 and a strike rate of 199.37.
- There are doubts about whether Samson or Ishan Kishan can maintain consistent performance over the long term.
The immediate question, however, is not just about replacing one name—it’s about finding a captain who can deliver in the shortest format while also fitting India’s longer cycle. The current talk centres on whether Suryakumar can retain any role in T20 cricket at all, after close to 18 months of comparatively disappointing output.
In that context, Shreyas Iyer has surfaced as a leading candidate. A report has pointed to Iyer as the most “obvious choice” for the job, even though he hasn’t featured for India in T20Is since December 2023. Still, the argument in his favour is the IPL track record: across the past three seasons, Iyer has guided two different franchises to the final, including steering Kolkata Knight Riders to the title in 2024.
Yet the path to the captaincy is not considered straightforward. The same report suggests Gautam Gambhir is not fully on board with the idea of Iyer taking over. Gambhir and Iyer were both part of the KKR setup in 2024, with Gambhir working as the mentor, and during that period Iyer had spoken publicly about feeling insufficiently valued despite delivering the title.
Other names in the frame
Alongside Iyer, Tilak Varma is also being weighed as a potential successor. He reportedly has support from multiple members of the selection committee, who see his age as a major plus for a long-term leadership plan. To assess his captaincy skills directly, Tilak has been given the captain’s role for the A series in Sri Lanka, with the aim of evaluating how he handles responsibilities.
There’s also Sanju Samson, who is described as Gambhir’s preferred candidate. Samson’s case is tied to his standout T20 World Cup earlier in the year, where he made an impact from the second half of the tournament. In five innings, he scored 321 runs, posting an average of 80.25 and a strike rate of 199.37. The run also included three consecutive half-centuries during the knockout stages, taking him all the way to the final.
Still, the selection debate is not settling quietly. Concerns remain about whether either Samson or Ishan Kishan can sustain consistent performances over time, especially if India is looking for stability rather than short bursts. With Iyer, Tilak, and Samson each backed from different corners, India’s hunt for its next T20I captain appears significantly more complex than simply selecting a direct replacement for Suryakumar.
