Shreyas Iyer Set For India T20I Comeback With Captaincy Role As Suryakumar Yadav Faces Uncertain Future

The BCCI's men's selection committee are reportedly looking for a change in T20I captaincy amid Suryakumar Yadav's lean patch with the bat. Suryakumar Yadav, who led India to their third T20 World Cup triumph earlier this year, has managed to score 195 runs in 10 matches, an average of 19.50 and a strike rate of 145.52 in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.

A report from timesofindia.com said the selection committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar, will meet after IPL 2026 to pick the squad for the upcoming T20I tour of Ireland and the series against England. During the meeting, Shreyas Iyer is expected to be discussed as both a possible comeback player and a captaincy option.

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Why will Suryakumar Yadav be replaced?

Even though Surya led India to the T20 World Cup title earlier this year, his batting form has remained under the spotlight. The selectors are believed to be concerned that he has not looked at his best for quite some time now.

The 35-year-old had earlier spoken about wanting to lead India in the 2028 T20 World Cup and even at the Los Angeles Olympics. But recent performances may have complicated those plans.

In the 2026 T20 World Cup, Surya scored 242 runs in nine innings. While the numbers are decent on paper, 84 runs came in the opening game against the USA, and he could not produce many big knocks after that.

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Concerns around Suryakumar Yadav's fitness

There are also questions around his fitness. According to the report, Surya has been carrying a wrist problem since last IPL season. He was often seen with tape on his right wrist while playing for Mumbai Indians. During the World Cup as well, he reportedly continued to use support and padding on the same wrist before going out to bat.

With concerns over form, fitness and age, the selectors may now look towards a younger long-term option.

Shreyas Iyer's captaincy record

At this stage, Shreyas Iyer appears to be leading the race. His captaincy record in the IPL has worked strongly in his favour. He helped Kolkata Knight Riders win the IPL title in 2024 and later guided Punjab Kings to the final in 2025. Iyer last played a T20I for India in December 2023