Suryakumar Yadav set to lose India T20I captaincy? Shreyas Iyer emerges as top choice for BCCI

India’s T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav could soon be removed as India’s T20I skipper, with the BCCI selection committee reportedly considering Shreyas Iyer for the role ahead of the upcoming Ireland and England tour. According to sources quoted by NDTV, selectors led by Ajit Agarkar have been impressed by Shreyas Iyer’s leadership during IPL 2026 and are looking at a transition in India’s T20 setup.

The latest development comes despite India’s strong performances under Suryakumar’s captaincy, including the T20 World Cup 2026 win. However, concerns over his batting form and fitness appear to have pushed the selectors towards a possible leadership change.

A report by the Times of India claimed that the selection committee has ‘run out of patience’ with Suryakumar’s struggles with the bat. The Mumbai Indians batter has endured a disappointing IPL 2026 campaign, scoring only 195 runs in 10 matches.

There is also uncertainty over whether Suryakumar will retain his place in the T20I squad purely as a batter if his poor run continues. Sources further revealed that the 35-year-old has been dealing with a wrist problem and has been playing through pain and discomfort in recent months.

Why is Shreyas Iyer leading the captaincy race?

Shreyas Iyer has emerged as the frontrunner after an impressive IPL 2026 season as captain of Punjab Kings. Under his leadership, PBKS won six of their first seven matches, while Iyer also contributed heavily with the bat, scoring 333 runs in nine innings.

The BCCI is also believed to be planning a gradual transition by introducing younger players into India’s T20I setup after the IPL season. Selectors reportedly see Iyer as a strong leadership option during this rebuilding phase.

Interestingly, Shreyas has not played a T20I for India in more than two years. His last appearance in the format came in December 2023.