3 Options Better Than Shreyas Iyer To Captain India In T20Is

Players who can be better T20I captain than Iyer [Source: AFP]

It is not official as of yet, but Suryakumar Yadav, the captain who helped India win the T20 World Cup, has been sacked from his position, and his replacement will be announced soon. The decision doesn’t come as a surprise since SKY had been woefully out of touch, and the selectors wanted to move forward from him.

Latest reports have stated that Shreyas Iyer is set to replace Suryakumar as the next T20I captain, and moreover, SKY could also be dropped from the team as a pure batter.

Why BCCI has sacked Suryakumar Yadav as India T2OI captain

This was a long-time coming for SKY, who had endured a torrid time in recent series, and the stats reveal why the BCCI took such a harsh call despite Suryakumar winning India the T20 World Cup.

(Suryakumar stats in T20 WC, IPL 2026)

• As the data reveals, Suryakumar Yadav failed to deliver the goods in both the World Cup, and the IPL 2026. He scored just 242 runs in nine matches, with a strike rate of 136. His solitary fifty in the competition came up against the USA side.
• The downfall continued in the IPL 2026, as Suryakumar Yadav accumulated just 270 runs in 13 matches and crumbled under pressure against the best in the business.

Iyer is clearly the front-runner for the captaincy post, but here are 3 other players who can be a better fit as the leader of the T20I squad.

1) Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill was supposed to be the next T20I skipper after Suryakumar Yadav. He was made the vice-captain of the T20I setup, and was touted to be a key member of the Men in Blue in the format. However, the BCCI sprung a surprise as he was omitted from the World Cup squad.

Gill, however, made a stellar comeback in the IPL 2026, leading the Gujarat Titans to the finale. His side lost against the RCB team, but Gill made the most of the limited resources that he had.

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Moreover, captaincy brought the best out of him as a batter, as the GT leader scored 732 runs, and finished as the second-highest run-getter in the tournament. In the IPL 2026, Gill has proven his mettle as the skipper, and if not Iyer, Gill could be a solid choice as the next T20I captain.

2) Rajat Patidar

Rajat Patidar became just the third captain after MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma to win successive IPL titles. He was the one who ended RCB’s title drought last year, and has been almost flawless with his tactical nuances.

Experts have hailed his leadership skills, and moreover, captaincy also brought the best out of him as Patidar scored 501 runs, with a strike rate of 192. He doesn’t crumble under captaincy pressure, and Patidar has the experience of managing high-profile names in the RCB squad, a skillset he needs in the Indian team as well.

Patidar is calm and composed, and that’s what makes him a special leader as T20 cricket demands captain who stays patient under pressure.

3) Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson is often hailed as one of the best captains in the IPL, especially after his stint with the Rajasthan Royals squad. Since the inaugural edition, RR had not reached an IPL final, but Samson broke the jinx as he led them to a historic IPL finale in 2022.

He also finished as the best RR skipper in IPL history (statistically), and it showcases his ability to deliver as the team captain. The franchise improved under his leadership, and just like Patidar, Samson brings a calm personality to the dressing room, a trait that makes him everyone’s favourite.

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