![Shreyas Iyer named the new India captain [Source: X and Screengrabs]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1780733854452_ShreyasIyerTR.jpg?type=hq)
Shreyas Iyer named the new India captain [Source: X and Screengrabs]
Shreyas has finally been given the green for the captaincy of Indian cricket tam after many months of speculation. As Suryakumar Yadav had his days gone, primarily because of batting, Iyer has been announced the new captain of the T20I cricket team of India.
The new skipper has been welcomed by fans and netizens too with mixed reactions on the internet. As India announced the squad for England, Ireland tour and the Asian Games squad, Suryakumar Yadav was axed from his stint with Iyer at the helm.
Iyer Deputy Tilak Varma In, SKY Out
Shreyas Iyer was named the skipper alongside Tilak Varma being the vice captain in the shortest format of the game. While the announcement of Iyer as skipper was speculated for long, Suryakumar Yadav’s exclusion was always on the cards too.
Given SKY’s diminishing returns in recent tims alongside a flop IPL 2026 season, Gautam Gambhir & Co. decided to go with multiple title winning captain Shreyas who is also at his top form amid injury-marred season.
Also Read- "Have Cotton In Ears": Fans Lose Cool As Gambhir Orders Rishabh Pant To Play Defensive
Surya's Form Dip The Main Concern?
Suryakumar Yadav’s removal follows an 18-month batting slump. Once the world's most dangerous T20 batter, he could not score a single half-century for India in the whole 2025 calendar year.
During the 2026 T20 World Cup win, his personal form stayed quiet. He scored only 242 runs in 9 innings, and his strike rate fell to a slow 136.72.
The final blow came in the IPL 2026 season. Playing for Mumbai Indians, he managed just 270 runs in 13 innings at an average of 20.76. Besides the form dip, a possible age factor might also be the reason that drove SKY out of Gambhir & Co.’s sight.
Nevertheless, the fans let out reactions on the internet as Iyer was crowned the new T20 captain of India by the BCCI. Let's take a look at the reactions:
Why Shreyas Over Surya Despite Massive Numbers?
The decision to replace Suryakumar Yadav was a shock considering SKY's remarkable success as leader. During his tenure, Suryakumar guided India to the 2025 Asia Cup title and the 2026 T20 World Cup crown while maintaining an extraordinary T20I captaincy win percentage of 80.76%, winning 42 of his 52 matches in charge.
However, the selection committee's preference for Shreyas Iyer appears to be based on a combination of leadership credentials, long-term planning, and recent form rather than trophies alone.
One of the strongest arguments in Iyer's favour is his proven leadership record in franchise cricket. The Mumbai batter remains the only captain in IPL history to guide three different franchises to an IPL final.
Iyer's Captaincy Numbers And Strong Track Record
He first transformed Delhi Capitals into a playoff contender, leading them to their maiden IPL final in 2020. He later ended Kolkata Knight Riders' nine-year title drought by winning the IPL 2024 trophy before steering Punjab Kings to the IPL 2025 final and reviving a franchise that had struggled for more than a decade.
Across 83 IPL matches as captain, Shreyas Iyer has registered 49 wins, maintaining a win rate close to 60%. More importantly, selectors view him as a captain who consistently delivers results across different team environments and squad compositions.
His recent batting form has also strengthened his case. While Suryakumar endured a prolonged slump throughout 2025 and IPL 2026, Iyer emerged as one of the most consistent performers in domestic and franchise cricket. His ability to anchor innings while maintaining a strike rate above 160 has made him a valuable middle-order option.
At 31, Iyer also fits India's long-term vision leading into the 2028 Olympics and T20 World Cup cycle. While Suryakumar's achievements as captain remain undeniable, the move signals that India's management is prioritizing sustained leadership success and future planning over past silverware alone.
Also Read- India A Squad vs Sri Lanka Announced; Dhruv Jurel Named Captain
