Suryakumar Yadav reacts to the new look of the Indian team and Sooryavanshi’s challenge

Former T20 World Cup captain Suryakumar Yadav has reacted to India’s newly announced T20I squad for the upcoming UK tour against England and Ireland, extending his support to the new side while hailing teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s first call-up.

India T20I squad announcement: How it happened

The senior batsman took to social media to congratulate the team as India begins a new chapter under new management. The answer comes immediately after he was dropped from the T20I squad altogether as the selectors look to reshape the squad for the next ICC cycle, bringing in some young names in the line-up alongside the established performers. Suryakumar Yadav reacts to being dropped from India’s T20I side (Photo: Instagram screenshot/@surya_14kumar)

“I wish this highly skilled group all the best for their future challenges,” Suryakumar Yadav wrote on Instagram, wishing the team all the best as they prepare for a tough tour of England and Ireland.

Three months after leading India to a successful defense of the T20 World Cup title, Suryakumar Yadav lost both the captaincy and his place in the T20I squad. His IPL 2026 campaign has also failed to produce the numbers expected from one of the format’s leading Test batsmen. Playing for Mumbai Indians, Suryakumar managed 270 runs in 13 innings at an average of 20.76 and a strike rate of 147.54.

This decision by the selectors was based on a combination of Suryakumar’s recent form and the need to build a team for the future. In his place, Shreyas Iyer will lead the new-look Indian side during the UK tour and the Asian Games.

PRAISE FOR SOORYAVANSHI

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s rapid rise over the past year has earned him a spot in the national team at just 15 years old. The teenage opener lit up the IPL 2026 and broke records en route to a remarkable season. He finished with 776 runs at a staggering 237.31, including a tournament record 72 sixes, and won the Orange Cap, Emerging Player and MVP awards. Surya wishes Vaibhav for the future (Photo screengrab from Instagram/@surya_14kumar)

This led to the former captain praising the rise of the young sensation. “You deserved it and how. Super excited to follow the path of the youngsters,” he added, specifically highlighting the rise of 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

At the age of 15, Vaibhav could become the youngest player ever to debut for the Indian national team, breaking the record held by the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. Sachin played his first match for India at the age of 16 years and 207 days, a record that Vaibhav could comfortably surpass this year.

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Published on:

06 Jun 2026 15:50 IST