It’s official in all but name: Shreyas Iyer is set to become India’s next T20I captain. The right-handed batter, who recently captained Punjab Kings in the IPL 2026, is expected to take over the role from Suryakumar Yadav. The formal announcement is likely to come on Saturday, when the selection committee meets to finalise India’s squad for the upcoming T20 assignments against Ireland and England.
Captaincy change and what it means for Suryakumar
The switch is widely viewed as a major shake-up for the current India T20I setup. Suryakumar Yadav, who led India to a T20 World Cup title earlier this year, is understood to be on his way out of the captaincy picture and will not be part of the upcoming UK tour.
- Suryakumar Yadav is set to step down as India’s T20I skipper.
- He is also expected to miss the forthcoming tour of the United Kingdom.
- Tilak Varma is likely to be named as Shreyas Iyer’s deputy in the T20 format.
Why Shreyas is the pick
The selection of Shreyas Iyer is not expected to surprise many, given his track record as a franchise captain and his evolution as a batting leader. The 31-year-old has already shown he can guide sides through high-pressure phases, while also contributing with the bat when it matters.
- He first led Delhi Capitals to their maiden IPL final in 2020.
- He later guided Kolkata Knight Riders to a title in 2024.
- As captain of Punjab Kings, he steered the franchise to its first final in 11 years.
Even though Punjab Kings had a disappointing IPL 2026 campaign overall, the decision-makers are understood to have rewarded the consistency he demonstrated as skipper. Leadership was only one side of the story—Shreyas also backed it up with significant run-scoring across seasons.
Shreyas’ India return and IPL form
Shreyas Iyer hasn’t played a T20I for India since December 2023. His first appearance in the shortest format after that layoff is expected to come with the captain’s armband.
His rise as both a tactician and a batter is also being linked with Suryakumar’s recent drop in form. Shreyas’ own numbers in recent IPL editions highlight why he has been considered ready for the responsibility at international level.
- In IPL 2025, he scored more than 600 runs as captain.
- In IPL 2026, he struck 498 runs at a strike rate of 168.81, including a century against Lucknow Super Giants.
For Suryakumar, the contrast has been stark. The India captain who delivered a World Cup-winning campaign this year has not been able to maintain the same batting rhythm during the period leading into this selection cycle.
- In 2025, Suryakumar failed to register a single half-century for India.
- At the T20 World Cup, he made 242 runs across 9 innings, striking at 136.72.
- In the IPL, he scored 270 runs in 13 innings for Mumbai Indians, averaging 20.76 with a strike rate of 147.54.
- In the Mumbai T20 league, he has played two matches for Triumphs Knights MNE, scoring 19 and 4.
Second straight change after a title-winning captain
With Suryakumar removed as captain, this is set to be the second consecutive year in which India have moved on from a title-winning skipper. Earlier, after winning the Champions Trophy, Rohit Sharma was replaced as ODI captain by Shubman Gill just a few months later.
That pattern is now repeating in the T20 leadership space, with the decision shifting from the captain who most recently delivered World Cup glory to a new face at the helm.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the mix and Ireland-England schedule
Alongside the captaincy news, another development is gaining attention: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is expected to be named in India’s squad for the two T20Is against Ireland. Whether he travels for the England matches remains to be confirmed, but if selected, he would become the youngest-ever player picked in an Indian squad.
- Sooryavanshi is set to be included for the two T20Is against Ireland.
- If he is picked for England as well, he would become India’s youngest-ever selection.
Sooryavanshi’s IPL 2026 impact for Rajasthan Royals has been eye-catching. He amassed 776 runs in the tournament at a strike rate of 237.31 and collected multiple honours, including the Orange Cap and the Most Valuable Player award.
However, before the Ireland series, he is scheduled to play for India A in a tri-series against Sri Lanka A and Afghanistan A, which begins on June 9.
The international timeline is as follows:
- Two T20Is vs Ireland in Belfast on June 26 and June 28.
- Five T20Is in England from July 1 to July 11.
