New Delhi, Jun 5: Shreyas Iyer has reportedly replaced Suryakumar Yadav as India’s T20I captain following a recent meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Apex Council.

According to several reports, the decision comes despite Suryakumar leading India to a successful defence of the T20 World Cup title in March 2026, with selectors said to be focusing on a long-term leadership roadmap leading up to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the next T20 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Leadership Change After Major Tournament Success
The reported move marks the second consecutive year in which India’s selectors have opted for a leadership change shortly after a major title triumph.

In 2025, Rohit Sharma was replaced as ODI captain by Shubman Gill ahead of the Australia tour, despite guiding India to the Champions Trophy title.

If confirmed, Shreyas Iyer’s tenure as T20I captain is expected to begin with India’s two-match T20I series against Ireland in Belfast on June 26 and 28. India are then scheduled to play a five-match T20I series in England from July 1 to 11.

The squad for the tour is expected to be announced on Saturday.

Why Shreyas Iyer Was Chosen?
Reports suggest the selectors rewarded Iyer for both his consistent batting performances and his leadership record in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Iyer captained Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL title in 2024 and previously led Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings to the IPL finals in 2020 and 2025 respectively.

Although he has not featured regularly in India’s T20I side since December 2023 due to team combinations and competition for middle-order spots, his performances in franchise cricket have reportedly strengthened his case for leadership.

His recent IPL numbers include:
IPL 2025: 604 runs at a strike rate of 175.07
IPL 2026: 498 runs at a strike rate of 168.81

Reports also indicate that Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan were considered for leadership roles, but Iyer’s captaincy experience gave him the edge. One of the two could reportedly be named vice-captain.

Why Suryakumar Yadav Was Removed?
According to reports, the decision to remove Suryakumar Yadav was influenced by concerns over his recent batting returns and the need to build a younger leadership group for the next major international cycle.

While Suryakumar guided India to the T20 World Cup title defence in 2026, his individual performances reportedly came under scrutiny.

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His recent numbers include:
T20 World Cup 2026: 242 runs in nine innings at a strike rate of 136.72
IPL 2026: 270 runs in 13 innings at an average of 20.76 and a strike rate of 147.54

Reports suggest the BCCI leadership felt it was the right time to begin a transition process rather than delay a change until closer to the 2028 Olympic cycle.

Focus On Long-Term Planning
The reported appointment of Iyer is being viewed as part of a broader effort to establish a stable leadership structure for the coming years.

With cricket set to feature in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and India aiming to defend the gold medal won in 2022, selectors are said to be building a long-term squad and leadership group around younger players while maintaining competitiveness at the highest level.