Ravichandran Ashwin has voiced strong reservations about Shreyas Iyer taking over as India’s T20I captain, with the former India spinner questioning how a player who was not part of the recent World Cup set-up can be handed the reins immediately. Ashwin’s comments come as the Ajit Agarkar-led All India Senior Men’s Selection Committee prepares to announce India’s squads for the Ireland and England series, along with the Asian Games, on Saturday.
Key takeaways
- Ravichandran Ashwin opposes Shreyas Iyer replacing Suryakumar Yadav as India’s T20I skipper.
- The selection panel led by Ajit Agarkar will name squads for the Ireland and England series and the Asian Games on Saturday.
- Shreyas is set to formally take over as captain and lead India in the UK next month.
- Ashwin says the decision lacks stability, describing the handover to Shreyas as the “wrong move.”
- Shreyas has played 51 T20 internationals for India, with his last appearance in December 2023.
Ashwin challenges the timing of the captaincy call
The 31-year-old Shreyas is expected to take charge without any late change in plan, and his first match as captain is slated to come during India’s tour of the UK next month. Shreyas, who has featured in 51 T20I matches for India, last played a T20I for the Men in Blue in December 2023, setting up his return as the side’s leader in the shortest format.
However, Ashwin believes the transition is fundamentally flawed. In remarks made on his YouTube channel, he questioned how someone who was not even part of the squad during the previous assignment could be appointed captain straight away.
“I have a lot of time for Shreyas. When he wasn’t picked, we talked about it for a long time. But this is also wrong. He cannot be made the captain straightaway,” Ashwin said. He also added that the bigger issue is the lack of continuity in leadership decisions.
Ashwin’s central argument was simple: if Shreyas was not selected for the World Cup squad, then handing him the captaincy immediately doesn’t make sense to him. “Someone who wasn’t even on the team, how can he do the captaincy?” he said, referencing reports that Shreyas would become the skipper. He further stressed that stability should be the priority when deciding on long-term roles.
He also underlined the quick shift in responsibility, calling it a “wrong move” to bring Shreyas into the leadership group and instantly give him the authority as captain.
Shreyas Iyer’s rise and IPL impact
While Ashwin may be questioning the captaincy decision, Shreyas’ track record in the format has been on a steady upward curve over the past few years. His captaincy credentials have grown alongside his batting impact, with leadership spells in franchise cricket laying the groundwork for his current standing in the conversation.
Shreyas first captained Delhi Capitals to the final of the IPL in 2020, a landmark run for the franchise as it reached its first-ever league-to-final stage. He later added another trophy to his resume by winning the IPL with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024. The following season, he guided Punjab Kings to the summit clash.
In the IPL 2025 cycle, Shreyas struck 604 runs, and in the 2026 edition he went on to score 498 runs. His consistency across these campaigns has helped reinforce his reputation as a high-impact batter in T20 cricket.
Outside the IPL, Shreyas was also appointed as Shubman Gill’s deputy for a three-match ODI series against Australia last year. Earlier this year, he was brought into India’s T20I squad for the series against New Zealand as an injury replacement for Tilak Varma, but he did not get a single game during that stint.
