Report: Shreyas Iyer replaces Suryakumar Yadav as India's T20I captain

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is all set to announce Shreyas Iyer as India's new T20I captain. Iyer will take over the leadership reins from Suryakumar Yadav, who led the Men in Blue to a T20 World Cup and an Asia Cup win under his tenure. Iyer, who last played a T20I for India in December 2023, is also set to become a permanent member of the side.

Iyer last featured in the T20I squad for the Indian team during the five-match series against New Zealand in early 2026, making a comeback after more than two years, but did not get any chance to take part in the series in which he had joined as a replacement for the then-injured Tilak Varma. The BCCI will be making an official announcement on the matter on Saturday, June 06.

According to India Today, Iyer will begin his captaincy stint with the Indian team starting with the two-match series against Ireland. Both the T20Is of this tour will be played in Belfast on June 26 and June 28, respectively. However, there is no certainty whether Suryakumar continues to be a part of the side as a specialist batter or will be sidelined completely.

It is worth mentioning that Suryakumar, despite having a fantastic record as the captain of the side, has had a tumultuous run with the bat over the last couple of years or so. Since 2024, the Mumbai-born has scored 1131 runs from 50 innings at a poor average of 26.30, compared to his career average of 36.35. He has scored only eight fifty-plus scores during this period, while boasting 21 such scores in the early part since his debut in 2021. 

The passing of the leadership baton comes as the BCCI is looking to make an overhaul and a fresh squad to prepare for key upcoming tournaments like the Asian Games in late 2026, the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 and the subsequent T20 World Cup to follow, which will be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

The squad for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland, followed by the five-match series against England in England, will be announced by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee on Saturday, which might see the dawn of a new era in the Indian team.