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Shreyas Iyer Named India T20I Captain as Suryakumar Yadav Gets Axed
8 Jun 2026, 5:33 pm
Shreyas Iyer Named India T20I Captain as Suryakumar Yadav Gets Axed
Indian cricket entered a new era on June 6, 2026, when the BCCI announced the T20I squads for the upcoming tours of England and Ireland. Shreyas Iyer has been appointed as India's new T20 captain, replacing Suryakumar Yadav, who has been dropped from the squad altogether despite leading India to the T20 World Cup title earlier this year.
Why Suryakumar Was Dropped
Suryakumar Yadav, 35, captained India to a successful defence of the T20 World Cup trophy in March 2026, but his batting form has since declined sharply. He scored just 270 runs in 13 IPL innings at an average of 20.76, and a modest 242 runs in nine innings during the World Cup at a strike rate of 136.72. Selectors felt the time had come to look ahead. He thus became the first India captain ever to be dropped immediately after winning a world title. ""Very happy for Shreyas as he's getting to lead the T20 Indian team,"" Suryakumar said graciously when asked for a response.
Shreyas Iyer's Captaincy Credentials
Shreyas, 31, takes over on the back of outstanding leadership in the IPL. He guided Kolkata Knight Riders to the title in 2024 and led Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings to finals in 2020 and 2025. He scored 498 runs at a strike rate of 168.81 in IPL 2026, proving his bat still has plenty to offer at this level. He had last played a T20I in December 2023, making this a significant return.
Sooryavanshi's Historic Call-Up
The most exciting name in the squad is 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who topped the IPL 2026 run charts with 776 runs from 16 innings at an extraordinary strike rate of 237.30. He smashed 72 sixes in the season, breaking Chris Gayle's previous record of 59. Should he play during the Ireland or England tours, he will become the youngest ever Indian man to represent the senior side, breaking Sachin Tendulkar's 36-year-old record. Tilak Varma has been named vice-captain, while Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya have been rested. India plays two T20Is in Ireland on June 26 and 28, then a five-match series in England from July 1 to 11.
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