Former India middle-order batter Mohammad Kaif has thrown his weight firmly behind Shreyas Iyer as the standout option to become India\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif pointed to Iyer\u2019s leadership credentials and stressed that his record as a captain is backed by his successful connection with head coach Gautam Gambhir. He cited Iyer\u2019s role during Kolkata Knight Riders\u2019 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\u2019s ability to steer teams deep into tournaments is a major plus.<\/p>\n
\u201cGautam 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\u2019s way of doing things,\u201d Kaif said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause 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\u2019t find many players who both captain and deliver with the bat. There is no better choice than him,\u201d Kaif added.<\/p>\n
Kaif also noted that Iyer\u2019s reputation has strengthened dramatically over the last two IPL seasons. After playing a key role in Kolkata Knight Riders\u2019 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you are removing a World Cup-winning captain, there can\u2019t be more chaos than that. But once the calls have been taken, this is not a major decision,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cJasprit Bumrah deserves it if you look at it. He has been part of Surya\u2019s 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\u2019t comment on his fitness and how available he\u2019ll 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,\u201d Kaif said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have gone past Pandya. At one stage, I even asked myself why he wasn\u2019t made captain. Gill won\u2019t come back either\u2014he was tried and he also didn\u2019t score\u2014so they have moved on from him as well. And I\u2019m saying this now too: Hardik shouldn\u2019t even be a franchise captain. Maybe he can be a better captain outside MI. If he wants to stay in MI, then don\u2019t make him the captain,\u201d Mohammad Kaif remarked.<\/p>\n
With speculation continuing around India\u2019s next T20I skipper, Kaif\u2019s message was clear: among the available options, Shreyas Iyer remains the strongest candidate to lead the side into its next chapter.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Former India middle-order batter Mohammad Kaif has thrown his weight firmly behind Shreyas Iyer as the standout option to become India\u2019s next T20I captain, should…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":14298,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"Kaif Picks Shreyas Iyer as India T20I Captain Candidate","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Mohammad Kaif backs Shreyas Iyer for India\u2019s next T20I captain, ahead of Gill. What it means for Ireland and England assignment ahead.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14299","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\n