Shreyas Iyer is tipped to replace Suryakumar Yadav as captain in India’s T20I side for the upcoming white-ball season, creating a huge shakeup. The national selectors are said to be in the process of forming a squad that functions for several cycles starting from Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and next ICC T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Australia & New Zealand.
India are likely to announce a squad for the upcoming T20I tour of Ireland and will also play England, on Saturday. It will be India’s first T20I assignment since their record-shattering triumph in the T20 World Cup held earlier this year under Suryakumar Yadav.
Suryakumar, who took India to a world title but has already been under the scanner for his low runs with bat. The seasoned batter accumulated 242 runs from nine innings with a strike rate of 136.72 during the T20 World Cup held in June this year by omitting only few top-order players who might have, otherwise filled his shoes. IPL 2026 was no different for Shreyas, as he could manage just 270 runs inm13 innings at an average of 20.76.
Selectors are apparently looking forwards towards a new leadership with Shreyas Iyer touted as the front-runner. Having not played a T20 International since December 2023, Iyer has continued to shine in domestic and franchise cricket. This year in T20Is, he was a standby member of India’s squad during the New Zealand series as an injury replacement but didn’t have to play.
This has massively strengthened Iyer, even with a limited leadership record. He took KKR to the IPL title in 2024 and had previously taken DC as well Punjab Kings into finals of IPL. He was equally superb with the bat, scoring 604 runs in IPL 2025 and a staggering498 runs in IPL 2016 while maintaining exceptional strike rates.
The move is a replica of the Indian selectors’ decision to replace ODI captain Rohit Sharma last year despite having delivered India an ICC major title. Rohit was still a part of the One-day squad but handed over captaincy to a younger leader, looking at future planning.
At the same time teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is set to make history. Only fifteen, he is believed to be in line for a first-ever call up into the Indian men’s side. If selected he’ll become India’s youngest player since Sachin Tendulkar burst onto the scene at aged 16 as summer began turning into autumn in late-1989.
Sooryavanshi’s rise has been extraordinary. The young batter had a sensational IPL season, scoring 776 runs at an incredible strike rate of237.30 The young batsman has gained a reputation for his fearless style and consistency which makes him one of the brightest upcoming talents in world cricket.
Sooryavanshi will also play for India A in tri-series against Afghanistan and hosts Sri Lanka prior to joining the senior national side. The tournament will be another key step in his progression prior to making the transition onto the international stage.
India will start its T20I tour with two games against Ireland in Belfast on June 26 and June 28. Next, they will head to England for a five-match T20I series from July 1-11 where yet another chapter in Indian cricket possibly begin.
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