Shreyas Iyer could replace Suryakumar Yadav as India’s T20I captain. New Delhi: The selectors are likely to relieve Suryakumar Yadav of India’s T20I captaincy duties when they meet to pick the squads for the national team’s matches after IPL 2026. TimesofIndia.com has learned that key decision-makers have run out of patience with the right-hander’s bat and want to inject some freshness into the next T2.1 cycle in England, which begins with two matches in England. Barring a late change of heart, Shreyas Iyer could not return to the T20I squad but do so as captain.India are staring at a busy T20I calendar in preparation for the 2028 World Cup and the LA Olympics that year. Now, Surya’s days as a captain seem to be over and it remains to be seen whether he remains in the scheme of things as a batsman in the only format playing for the country. While the 35-year-old has repeatedly expressed his desire to continue as captain for another two years, the men who matter have not been convinced by his batting returns.
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Is everything wrong with Suryakumar Yadav’s wrist? | Exclusive visualsIn his last assignment, Surya led India to the T20 World Cup 2026 title, finishing the tournament with 242 runs in nine innings; 84 of those came against the USA in the team’s opener. Apart from this match, the right-hander has struggled in high-pressure situations, a pattern that has marked his recent stint with Team India. Since taking over as captain in the shortest format in July 2024, Surya has remained woefully out of form, managing only a few consistent runs in the T20I series against New Zealand in January this year. Since being handed the leadership role, Surya has managed just 932 runs in 45 matches and has endured long lean patches.Wrist trouble?
Suryakumar Yadav was repeatedly sidelined during the T20 World Cup by the team doctor for a wrist problem.
Well-placed sources in the BCCI and Team India revealed that the right-hander is dodging the troublesome wrist and playing through the accompanying pain and discomfort. Since last season with the Mumbai Indians, he has been batting and fielding with his right wrist heavily taped, avoiding drills that apply direct pressure.While taping and padding were not consistent throughout the competitions, they became a regular feature during the T20 World Cup. Just before batting, he called Dr Rizwan Khan – the team doctor – who rushed to the dressing room for cotton swabs and brown tapes to secure his wrists. In one instance, the two paid serious attention to the wrists before Surya could start tapping. The sequence was repeated in multiple locations, away from the cameras. When asked about the workout during a mixed media interaction, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate brushed it off, saying, “It could be normal wear and tear.”
Suryakumar Yadav has had poor returns since becoming India’s T20I captain in July 2024.
While Surya enjoys a strong win percentage (76.92 per cent) as captain and boasts several titles (Asia Cup 2025 and FIFA World Cup 2026), his lack of power returns with the bat, a clumsy wrist and age have the think tank looking elsewhere.
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Who should replace Suryakumar Yadav as India’s T20I captain if there is a change?
There were and are management options Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan as well, but Iyer seems to be ahead for his IPL success in three seasons with different franchises.
