In recent weeks, reports in Indian cricket circles have suggested that Suryakumar Yadav\u2019s spell as India\u2019s captain in T20 internationals could be reassessed sooner than later. The discussion has centered on the idea that the BCCI may want to identify a longer-term option well before the next T20 World Cup, scheduled for 2028, with the aim of building leadership continuity beyond the current 2026-winning captain. Former India head coach Ravi Shastri, however, believes the federation should look in a specific direction rather than focusing only on the usual debate around immediate form.<\/p>\n
Speaking on the ICC Review, Shastri said that India could indeed be looking for a fresh captain by the time the 2028 tournament arrives, depending on how Suryakumar performs over the next couple of years. He acknowledged that if India were to move on from Suryakumar, there would be more than one name for consideration, but he still felt one standout player should be elevated for a leadership role.<\/p>\n
Shastri noted that Shreyas Iyer could be among the candidates, citing his IPL record, and he also mentioned Hardik Pandya as another option. Yet the former coach\u2019s preference was clear when he highlighted Sanju Samson\u2014currently not leading any IPL side as captain\u2014despite that fact.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut Sanju Samson has put himself there for a leadership role because he\u2019s done that in the past for Rajasthan,\u201d Shastri explained. \u201cAnd he\u2019s a certainty in the side, at the top of the order, extremely destructive. So I see him\u2014this is just the start of something more you\u2019ll see from Sanju over the next two or three years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Samson has previously led Rajasthan Royals in multiple seasons, including a run to the IPL final in 2022. He has since moved to Chennai Super Kings, where he operates under the captaincy leadership of Ruturaj Gaikwad. Even with that change in team and leadership structure, Shastri believes Samson\u2019s value has remained consistent\u2014both as a dependable figure in India\u2019s shortest-format setup and as a batter with growing experience.<\/p>\n
Shastri argued that Samson has answered doubts about his ability. \u201cI think he has put a lid on all those question marks. There was always ability. People would, in fact, be disappointed because he wouldn\u2019t do justice to that ability,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
A major reason Shastri is backing Samson is the manner in which he has stepped up during crucial phases in recent months. In particular, he pointed to Samson\u2019s run during the T20 World Cup, where he produced three major half-centuries across the three must-win games at the end of the tournament\u2014a stretch that helped keep India\u2019s campaign alive and demonstrated his ability to deliver when the stakes rise.<\/p>\n
Shastri then added to the argument by emphasizing Samson\u2019s performances beyond that tournament. He highlighted how Samson played after the T20 World Cup, describing how he nearly carried India in multiple important matches, including the quarter-final against West Indies, the Super 8 stage games, the semi-final, and the final.<\/p>\n
Beyond raw match-winning bursts, Shastri said he is even more convinced by the maturity Samson has shown while batting at the top of the order for CSK. With the pressure of expectations and the absence of one of the team\u2019s senior figures, MS Dhoni, Samson has been required to take on greater responsibility in the leadership group. Shastri believes Samson has responded well\u2014leading from the front in yellow with a couple of centuries and another strong season to reinforce his growing stature.<\/p>\n
Concluding his remarks, Shastri said that Samson\u2019s approach in the IPL\u2014especially the composure and maturity he brings to big situations\u2014makes him a clear option for leadership in the future. He ended by throwing his full support behind Samson as the next India leadership candidate, framing it as the beginning of a longer upward arc over the coming years.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In recent weeks, reports in Indian cricket circles have suggested that Suryakumar Yadav\u2019s spell as India\u2019s captain in T20 internationals could be reassessed sooner than…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":9894,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"IPL News: Shastri Backs BCCI for India Captaincy","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Ravi Shastri backs BCCI to choose a mature, destructive leader for India\u2019s captaincy\u2014discussing long-term planning after Suryakumar\u2019s T20 stint.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9895","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\n