Former India cricketer and selector Saba Karim has suggested that India’s T20 team may be heading for another significant reset before the 2028 T20 World Cup, with captain Suryakumar Yadav among the names who could face fresh scrutiny if results do not improve. Karim pointed to a dip in Suryakumar’s overall output, arguing that selectors often adjust direction when form trends fail to match earlier promise.
Key takeaways
- Saba Karim believes India’s T20 set-up could undergo a further major change ahead of the 2028 T20 World Cup.
- Suryakumar Yadav’s recent returns are a concern, with his overall T20 form described as below expectations.
- Karim cited Suryakumar’s IPL 2026 numbers—270 runs in 13 matches at a strike rate of 147.54, including two fifties.
- He backed Rajat Patidar as a captaincy option after the batter’s back-to-back IPL title success with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
- Karim expects Shreyas Iyer and Sanju Samson, along with Ishan Kishan, to be realistic contenders for future leadership roles.
- He does not see Hardik Pandya as a frontrunner and urged close monitoring of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi during the India A tri-series in Sri Lanka.
Karim questions Suryakumar’s place in India’s long-term plans
Karim said the current conversation around India’s T20 leadership and composition may not stay fixed, especially as the team looks toward the next World Cup cycle. He argued that Suryakumar has not been able to consistently reproduce the kind of batting dominance that previously made him among the most feared T20 hitters.
While Karim acknowledged that Suryakumar showed sparks—such as producing a few half-centuries against New Zealand earlier in the year and playing a key role in India’s T20 World Cup opener against the USA—he stressed that his broader season-by-season output has fallen short of what selectors would want as the team builds for 2028.
That concern, Karim said, continued through IPL 2026. Suryakumar scored 270 runs across 13 matches, striking at 147.54, and managed only two half-centuries during the tournament.
Karim suggested those patterns could influence how the selection group shapes its long-range strategy. “On current form, Suryakumar may not be part of the selection vision to take this team forward,” Karim said, highlighting how selection committees have historically made bold shifts when a new direction is required.
He referenced past transitions where selection thinking moved on from established captains and stars, pointing out that a similar approach could emerge again before the 2028 T20 World Cup. “We have seen that in the past; the selection committee moved from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli and they picked a new side. So, one can see that happening even now for the T20 World Cup that will take place in 2028,” Karim added.
Karim also maintained that Suryakumar’s difficulties have not been confined to the IPL alone. He argued the captain’s form across competitions has remained inconsistent, and that selectors should now prioritize what comes next rather than only what has happened recently. “Even in the World Cup, Suryakumar’s form was very indifferent and that has continued in the IPL. I think the selectors have to look ahead (now),” Karim said.
Who could lead India’s T20 side? Patidar in focus, with others in the mix
Turning to captaincy possibilities for India’s T20 team, Karim said he would like Rajat Patidar to be considered as a contender. He pointed to Patidar’s recent achievement of guiding Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a second straight IPL title as evidence of the temperament required to handle high-pressure leadership.
Karim noted that Patidar has not yet played a T20I for India, but he felt the captaincy credentials should still be taken seriously. “I would like to add Rajat Patidar’s name as a contender for captaincy. Winning back-to-back IPL titles is a very tough assignment and he has done that in a very calm and a very assured manner,” Karim said.
He further explained why Patidar’s task is particularly challenging: leading a group of players that includes both domestic stars and foreign performers who are key figures for their respective national teams. “He has had to lead a team of individuals and foreign players who have been star players for their national sides. To lead such a team which has so many legends and a mix of experience is a very difficult assignment and he has accomplished that,” Karim added.
Karim also named other potential leadership candidates for the coming years. He pointed to Shreyas Iyer as one option and placed Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan among additional strong contenders. “I think Shreyas Iyer would be one of those candidates. I have Sanju Samson, (and) in fact, Ishan Kishan (too). I think there will be two or three strong contenders to take over the captaincy,” Karim said.
However, Karim does not believe Hardik Pandya should be among the leading candidates. He suggested that selectors have already raised concerns about Pandya’s leadership approach. “I think the selectors have raised question marks about Hardik Pandya’s leadership skills. Last season, although Mumbai Indians did qualify for the playoffs, there were some question marks raised about his style of leadership,” Karim said.
Karim added that even with the current form picture, he does not see Pandya as someone who would strengthen India’s case for captaincy. “(Even) on current form, I don’t think he would justify his position as the captain of the Indian side,” he said.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi called a talent worth fast-tracking
Karim also singled out teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, describing him as a standout young prospect. He said the 15-year-old has already done enough to place himself firmly in contention for national selection.
Karim believes Sooryavanshi’s performances in the ongoing India A tri-series in Sri Lanka should be watched carefully before any final selection decision is made. “I am sure he will be part of the discussion. The selectors will watch him in the tri-nation (A) series that is taking place in Sri Lanka. If he does well there, I’m sure he’ll get a look in,” he said.
Karim argued that the talent level is such that it should not be delayed. “I strongly feel that such a talent needs to be picked as soon as possible because he has done enough to warrant a place in the squad. Now, what number you slot him in, that’s a different ballgame altogether,” Karim concluded.
