Gautam Gambhir Shreyas Iyer Suryakumar Yadav for India. Image Credits: AFP
Shreyas Iyer's rise as a leader continues to gather momentum, but his potential India captaincy may come with an unexpected role and twist. After an impressive performance in the ongoing IPL 2026 season, where he has led Punjab Kings (PBKS) to the top of the table as of now, Shreyas Iyer is now being considered for a leadership role in India's T20 setup.
Shreyas Iyer has built a strong reputation as a captain over the last few years in the IPL. He guided Kolkata Knight Riders to a title in 2024 and followed it up by taking Punjab Kings to the IPL 2025 final.
BCCI plans separate T20 setup with Shreays Iyer
According to exclusive reports by NDTV, the BCCI is planning a broader strategy to manage workload and expand the player pool. With multiple tournaments and series overlapping, India may field two different T20 teams simultaneously.
In this setup, Shreyas Iyer is expected to lead the secondary squad, which could feature in tours like Ireland.
"The Asian Games and India vs West Indies T20 Series are going to be at the same time. So we have to look at two T20 teams playing. It is important from now to have a pool of 30-35 cricketers who can be called up for International assignments. For the upcoming Ireland tour, like most tours to UK, a bigger pool of players will be kept in the squad. This will extend for the Asian Games."
Can Shreyas Iyer replace Suryakumar Yadav as full time T20I captain?
The leadership dynamics of India's T20I side is once again under discussion. Under Suryakumar Yadav, India lifted their third T20 World Cup title. However, despite the success, questions are being raised about whether he is the right choice to lead the team in the long run.
While Suryakumar Yadav remains one of the most innovative batters in T20 cricket, his recent performances have not been as strong as expected.
During the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, he scored 242 runs in 9 innings, averaging 30.25 and striking at 136.72. His numbers in the IPL 2026, as of now, have also not been impressive.
The MI star player has played in 5 innings and scored 106 runs at a strike rate of 151.43 and an average of 21.20.
For a player known for his explosive batting, these numbers have raised concerns. At 35, questions are also being asked about whether he can maintain peak performance while handling the pressure of captaincy for India.
Also Read: Suryakumar Yadav To Be Sacked As India Captain? Latest Update Brings Trouble For MI Star
On the other hand, Shreyas Iyer has made a strong case for himself. Known for his calm approach and sharp cricketing mind, Shreyas has impressed both as a batter and a leader.
His recent performances in the IPL 2026 have been outstanding. He has played 5 innings and made 208 runs at an average of 52.00 and strike-rate of 182.46. Moreover, he led KKR to IPL 2024 final win, then led Punjab Kings to the IPL 2025 final and his Punjab team has been unbeaten so far in IPL 2026.
Ireland tour could be a testing ground
It is important to note that after the conclusion of IPL 2026, Afghanistan will travel to India, where the hosts will play a one-off Test and an ODI series.
The one-off Test will be played from June 6 to 10 at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium in New Chandigarh. Meanwhile, the three-match ODI series will take place in Dharamsala, Lucknow and Chennai.
As per the currently available and announced schedule, the first T20I series India will play after the IPL 2026 will be India’s tour of Ireland 2026. On this tour, India will play a two-match T20I series. The first match will take place on June 26, followed by the second on June 28.
This series is expected to play an important role in shaping this plan for the future. Such tours have traditionally been used to test young players, but this time it could also serve as an opportunity to experiment with leadership roles, as this will be the tour during which Shreyas Iyer will likely lead India's tier 2 Team.
Also Read: Not Akash Madhwal! CSK Call Back Ex Alumni To Replace Khaleel Ahmed
