Shreyas Iyer takes over India T20I captaincy as Suryakumar Yadav misses out
Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi earns maiden international call-up
MUMBAI – India have ushered in a new era in T20 international cricket, appointing Shreyas Iyer as captain of the national side ahead of the upcoming tours of Ireland and England.
The decision, announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday, ends Suryakumar Yadav’s tenure at the helm despite his role in guiding India to a successful defence of the Men’s T20 World Cup title earlier this year.
The leadership change was one of the most closely watched decisions ahead of the selection meeting in Mumbai. India will play two T20Is in Dublin on June 26 and 28 before travelling to England for a five-match series from July 1 to 11.
Presenting #TeamIndia's T20I squads for the tours of England & Ireland 2026 ????????#ENGvIND | #IREvIND pic.twitter.com/f84kSSAIDf
— BCCI (@BCCI) June 6, 2026
New direction
Shreyas, who currently serves as India’s ODI vice-captain, takes charge at a pivotal stage as the team begins planning towards the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the next Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Selectors weighed several options before finalising the decision. While retaining Suryakumar through the England tour and handing the role to Hardik Pandya were both considered, Shreyas’ leadership record and strong standing within dressing rooms across domestic and franchise cricket ultimately proved decisive.
The 31-year-old’s rise marks a remarkable turnaround. Having fallen out of India’s T20I plans after December 2023, he rebuilt his credentials through consistent performances and leadership success. He captained Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL title in 2024, led Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings to IPL finals in 2020 and 2025 respectively, and guided Mumbai to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy crown in the 2024-25 season.
Squad changes
Suryakumar’s recent struggles played a significant role in the move. The batter scored 270 runs in 13 IPL 2026 innings for Mumbai Indians at an average of 20.76. During the T20 World Cup, he managed 242 runs at a strike rate of 136.72.
The selectors also made several notable changes to the squad. Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan was left out of the Ireland and England series but included in India’s Asian Games squad.
Teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi earned his maiden international call-up after a stunning IPL campaign in which he amassed 776 runs in 16 innings at a strike rate of 237.30. Lucknow Super Giants pacer Prince Yadav also received his first call-up after claiming 16 wickets in 14 matches.
Meanwhile, premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for the bilateral series following a demanding workload that included the T20 World Cup and a lengthy IPL season.