Data check: How Shreyas Iyer’s consistency and Suryakumar Yadav’s poor form paved the way for India’s T20I captaincy change

Suryakumar Yadav and Shreyas Iyer (PTI Photo) New Delhi: Chief selector Ajit Agarkar on Saturday categorically stated that Shreyas Iyer came close to earning a place in India’s T20 World Cup squad earlier this year.“When Surya was there, there was no place for him. So I think he is a strong candidate with enough experience to lead in the T20 format. That is obviously a different challenge,” Agarkar told the media after announcing that the Mumbai batsman will be India’s new T20I captain. Shreyas has been playing the waiting game for quite some time now. After last representing India in the shortest format in December 2023, he kept knocking on the door. Over the last three IPL seasons, he has scored 1,453 runs at an average of 48.43 and a strike rate of 165.3. Only Virat Kohli (2,073 runs), Sai Sudharsan (2,008), Shubman Gill (1,808), KL Rahul (1,590), Heinrich Klaasen (1,590) and Abhishek Sharma (1,486) have scored more. It is also worth noting that apart from Klaasen, all are opening the batting for their respective franchises.Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav, who had led India to T20 World Cup glory a few months ago, saw his runs dry up.Over the last three years, Surya has scored 1,332 IPL runs at an average of 39.17 and a strike rate of 163.23, with five ducks. He enjoyed an excellent IPL 2025, amassing 717 runs at a strike rate of 167.91.However, runs have dried up in international cricket as well. If he averaged 43.60 before becoming India’s full-time T20 captain in July 2024, that number has since dropped to 25.88. A once prolific batsman who toyed with the bowlers, his strike rate also dropped significantly, from 168.75 to 152.03.

How Shreyas Iyer pinged Suryakumar Yadav for the last three years. (Image: NotebookLM)

Last year, in 30 matches, Surya scored 674 runs at an average of 30.63 and a strike rate of 148.78. The sum includes only four fifties and no hundreds.Among players who have appeared in at least 25 T20Is during this period, this run ranks 20th in world cricket. His average of 30.63 ranks him 17th.It’s also worth noting that these figures are backed by unbeaten runs of 84 against the USA and 33 against Zimbabwe, two comparatively weaker opponents.

Suryakumar Yadav’s record as India’s T20I captain. (Graphic: TimesofIndia.com)

At the other end of the spectrum are unbeaten 82, unbeaten 57 and 63, all against the New Zealand national cricket team. These innings gave him time and some freedom during the T20 World Cup cycle, but poor returns after the tournament and in IPL 2026 did not help his case.“Look at the form in the last two years, but he has done well as India’s captain. We didn’t settle much, but at some stage we wanted to look ahead,” Agarkar said on the decision to bring Iyer ahead of Suryakumar.Shreyas will make himself the No. 4 spot

Top run-scorers at No.4 in the last three IPL seasons. (TimesofIndia.com)

The selectors’ task has been made easier by the fact that Suryakumar has not claimed the No.4 spot in recent times.In IPL 2024-26, Iyer overtook Surya at No. 4. While Iyer scored 885 runs at an average of 49.16 and a strike rate of 161.79, Surya managed 839 runs at an average of 49.35 and a strike rate of 162.28.For the record, Riyan Parag (1,147 runs) and Rajat Patidar (1,044 runs) have better returns at the position. It is worth noting that despite leading Royal Challengers Bengaluru to back-to-back IPL titles, Patidar is yet to cement a place in India’s T20I squad.A closer look at the recently concluded IPL season further strengthens Iyer’s case.

Best score at No. 4 in IPL 2026. (Image: TimesofIndia.com)

After Klaasen (499 runs) and Patidar (448), Shreyas Iyer was the No. 4 most destructive batsman in IPL 2026. He scored 439 runs at an average of 48.77 and a strike rate of 169.49. Surya, meanwhile, struggled, managing just 210 runs at an average of 26.25 and a strike rate of 145.83.While Shreyas hit 34 fours and 27 sixes for a total of 61 boundaries, Surya managed only 19 fours and nine sixes for a total of 28 boundaries.It can be argued that India have won titles since Suryakumar Yadav was promoted to T20 captaincy, but if the focus is on building towards 2028, the lack of runs cannot be ignored. And this is where Shreyas Iyer outshines Mr. 360.