Indian cricket may be heading for a change in T20 leadership. Despite a strong run under Suryakumar Yadav, reports citing sources in the Times of India suggest the BCCI selection committee is likely to hand the T20 captaincy to Shreyas Iyer for the coming cycles.
The news is something of a surprise, given that India hasn’t lost a T20 series under Surya, who also led the team to an Asia Cup win and defended the T20 World Cup title. The selectors, however, are reportedly concerned about his recent batting form and fitness.
The case against the status quo
While Surya’s tactical sense isn’t in question, his returns with the bat have raised flags. In the current IPL season with Mumbai Indians he managed 195 runs in 10 matches, and although he scored 242 in the T20 World Cup, much of it came against weaker sides. There are also reports of a persistent wrist injury and questions over his place in the XI as a pure batter, leaving the Ajit Agarkar-led committee looking for a consistent anchor and a younger leader with an eye on 2028.
Iyer in form
Shreyas Iyer has emerged as the frontrunner on the back of a strong IPL run. Leading Punjab Kings, he has won six of his first seven matches and scored 333 runs in nine innings. If the reports hold, he could take charge as early as the upcoming tours of Ireland and England. Surya is said to have wanted to stay on until the 2028 World Cup, but the selectors appear keen on a fresh start, with a decision expected after the IPL.
Leave a Reply