Former India middle-order batter Mohammad Kaif has thrown his weight firmly behind Shreyas Iyer as the standout option to become India’s next T20I captain, should the team management decide to part ways with Suryakumar Yadav. With the upcoming T20I assignment in Ireland and England on the horizon, Iyer is widely expected to be the leading internal candidate, even though there has been no official confirmation yet.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif pointed to Iyer’s leadership credentials and stressed that his record as a captain is backed by his successful connection with head coach Gautam Gambhir. He cited Iyer’s role during Kolkata Knight Riders’ title-winning run in IPL 2024 as evidence of how well the captain and coach have worked together at the highest level. Kaif also argued that Iyer’s ability to steer teams deep into tournaments is a major plus.
“Gautam has already worked with Shreyas and won the trophy with KKR. Shreyas took Delhi and Punjab to the final. In terms of experience, he has captained in the IPL, won the title, and he understands Gautam’s way of doing things,” Kaif said.
Kaif went on to make the case that Iyer is ahead of other contenders because he has shown he can contribute both as a batter and as a captain. He suggested that the combination of responsibilities is rare and that Iyer has already demonstrated it repeatedly at franchise level.
“Because of that mutual understanding, Shreyas looks like the front-runner. He is far ahead of the other options. He has also scored runs while leading the side. You won’t find many players who both captain and deliver with the bat. There is no better choice than him,” Kaif added.
Kaif also noted that Iyer’s reputation has strengthened dramatically over the last two IPL seasons. After playing a key role in Kolkata Knight Riders’ title campaign, he then went on to guide Punjab Kings to the IPL 2025 final, while continuing to make significant contributions with the bat throughout the tournament.
Turning to the potential controversy of changing leadership, Kaif acknowledged that replacing a captain who has already delivered a World Cup triumph could spark debate. However, he believed that if the selectors have decided to shift directions, appointing Iyer would be a sensible and coherent move.
“If you are removing a World Cup-winning captain, there can’t be more chaos than that. But once the calls have been taken, this is not a major decision,” he said.
Special backing for Jasprit Bumrah
While supporting Iyer, Kaif also saved particular praise for Jasprit Bumrah, describing the fast bowler as his preferred choice for captaincy provided fitness and availability are not obstacles. He argued that Bumrah has been a consistent performer and has already shown leadership instincts, including during his time captaining Mumbai Indians.
“Jasprit Bumrah deserves it if you look at it. He has been part of Surya’s team for long and has delivered. If he is ready for captaincy, he should be first above all other names. He has captained MI as well and they won. He has even made a statement that shows he wants the role. I can’t comment on his fitness and how available he’ll be, but in that sense, nobody should even be close to him because he has been in the XI and done well in different conditions,” Kaif said.
Other names in the captaincy discussion
Kaif also addressed other players who have been mentioned in leadership discussions. In his view, the management appears to have moved beyond Hardik Pandya and Shubman Gill in the T20I captaincy race.
“They have gone past Pandya. At one stage, I even asked myself why he wasn’t made captain. Gill won’t come back either—he was tried and he also didn’t score—so they have moved on from him as well. And I’m saying this now too: Hardik shouldn’t even be a franchise captain. Maybe he can be a better captain outside MI. If he wants to stay in MI, then don’t make him the captain,” Mohammad Kaif remarked.
With speculation continuing around India’s next T20I skipper, Kaif’s message was clear: among the available options, Shreyas Iyer remains the strongest candidate to lead the side into its next chapter.
