Indian Players Whose Careers Could Be Over If Shreyas Iyer Becomes T20I Captain

Iyer is likely to become the next India T20I captain [Source: AFP]

India might have won the T20 World Cup recently, but the BCCI is not stopping here, as the Indian cricket board has a blueprint ready for the next T20 World Cup, scheduled for 2028. The Men in Blue have won the last two editions, and they’ll be aiming to go three-peat in the next marquee event.

Suryakumar Yadav was India’s T20I captain, and he became just the third Indian skipper after MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma to lift the coveted trophy. However, there could be a change of guard as the BCCI is planning a change, and SKY would be the first to fall.

According to reports, BCCI is impressed with Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy in the IPL, and they are plotting a move to make him India’s next T20I skipper. Iyer has done well for the Punjab Kings, and his innovative plans could work wonders for India in the format.

If Iyer becomes captain, he’ll bring some changes in the Indian squad, and there could be some players who could face the axe from the Indian T20I squad. Here are 3 such players who could be dropped from the side if Iyer replaces SKY.

1) Suryakumar Yadav

If Iyer becomes the next T20I captain of India, the first name to fall down could be Suryakumar Yadav, the current skipper. While SKY has done well as the captain, his batting has taken a hit ever since he replaced Rohit Sharma in the leadership group.

Known for his aggressive and 360 degree batting, Suryakumar has witnessed a slump in form since the last two years, and the stats reveal the story.

(SKY T20I stats in 2025, 2026)

• In 2025, the Indian T20I captain scored just 218 runs, with a strike rate of 123. The numbers drastically improved in 2026 (484 runs, 161 strike rate), however, the stats don’t reveal the entire story here.
• Suryakumar did manage to score nearly 500 runs, but he failed to deliver the goods for India in the T20 World Cup 2026, scoring only 242 runs, with a strike rate of 136 as he failed in big matches.
• Even in the ongoing IPL, the Mumbai Indians batter has crumbled under pressure, scoring only 195 runs in 10 IPL matches.
• Both Shreyas and SKY bat at number 4, and not only as a captain, but Iyer might also replace SKY at his designated batting spot.

Also Read: Shreyas Iyer To Captain Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma In 2027 World Cup! Shubman Gill’s Ouster Plotted

2) Sanju Samson

Whenever a new captain is appointed, he tends to bring in his own players in the squad, and expect something on similar lines, as Iyer is likely to be appointed the captain after the IPL.

Right now, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson open for India in this format. While Abhishek has the ability to take down any attack right from ball one, Samson can sometimes take time to adjust before going for the big shots.

Hence, if Iyer becomes the captain, he could bring in one player from his Punjab Kings squad, Priyansh Arya. Priyansh has a similar mindset as Shreyas Iyer, as both players believe in an attacking approach.

In IPL 2026 Priyansh strikes at 242, and if India needs two aggressive openers, Priyansh could be the answer to replace Samson. Also, there is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi waiting in the wings, so if not Priyansh, Sooryavanshi could be the ideal replacement.

3) Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav might be a talented spinner, but for some reason, Team India hardly shows any trust in him. He was picked in the T20 World Cup squad, but Kuldeep only played a solitary game as Varun Chakaravarthy was preferred over him.

Moreover, his IPL 2026 performance is also not ideal, as the spinner has conceded runs for fun.

(Kuldeep in IPL 2026)

• Just 7 wickets in 10 IPL 2026 matches, with an economy of 10.37, define Kuldeep’s journey so far. He has been taken to the cleaners, and Kuldeep’s confidence is at an all-time low.
• Iyer could replace him with his PBKS teammate, Yuzvendra Chahal. In the last 2.5 seasons of the IPL, Chahal has bagged 42 wickets, while Kuldeep has scalped 38 wickets. This season, Chahal has bowled brilliantly, and Iyer could replace Kuldeep with him.

Also Read: Arshdeep Singh Stopped By Punjab Kings! Fans Claim Crackdown On Indian Pacer As Journalist Drops Hint