Suryakumar Yadav likely to lose India T20I captaincy; Shreyas Iyer and Sanju Samson in the race

MUMBAI: India's T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, is likely to be removed from his post, according to reports. Sources say the BCCI and the selection committee have already reached a consensus on the matter. Reports also suggest that Suryakumar might be dropped from the team entirely because of his poor batting form. Mumbai batsman Shreyas Iyer has emerged as the top candidate to become the new captain, largely due to his successful leadership in the IPL.

Apart from Shreyas Iyer, several other players are reportedly being considered for the role, including Malayali wicketkeeper-batter Sanju V. Samson, wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan, and young batter Tilak Varma. National media reports claim that the selection committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar, has reached a final decision regarding Suryakumar's future as captain. Suryakumar was appointed India's T20I captain after Rohit Sharma retired from the format following India's T20I World Cup triumph in 2024.

It is worth noting that India have not lost a single T20I series under Suryakumar’s leadership. Earlier this year, he also led the team to victory in the T20I World Cup, helping India retain the title. However, with Suryakumar approaching the age of 36, the BCCI is reportedly looking to build a team under a younger captain with the next T20I World Cup in mind. While Suryakumar's captaincy has been successful, his batting performances have declined significantly compared to his peak years. His struggles with the bat, along with an underwhelming IPL season, have reportedly raised concerns about his place in the squad.