Hours after replacing Suryakumar Yadav as India T20I captain, Shreyas Iyer leads side to victory over SKY

Shreyas Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav (Image credit: T20 Mumbai) NEW DELHI: Shreyas Iyer’s first day as India’s new T20I captain could hardly have been more dramatic.Hours after the BCCI announced Iyer as Suryakumar Yadav’s successor at the helm of the national T20 side, the two Mumbai stalwarts clashed in the T20 Mumbai League. At the end of the evening, the newly appointed Indian captain had the last word as he led the SoBo Mumbai Falcons to a five-wicket victory over Suryakumar’s Triumph Knights MNE.While Suryakumar produced a signature cameo 48 off 24 balls, smashing three fours and four sixes, Shreyas responded with an impressive 61 off just 36 deliveries, garnished with five boundaries and four sixes, to guide his side to victory in style.Shreyas responds with the batBatting first, Triumph Knights MNE managed 147 for eight with Suryakumar again providing the spark. The former India T20 captain looked in sublime touch and seemed set for a higher score before falling two short of a half-century.However, Shreyas made sure that the spotlight remained firmly on him. Introduced as a substitute for SoBo Mumbai Falcons, the 31-year-old played a captain’s knock and expertly paced the chase as his side crossed the finish line with five wickets in hand.The contest took on added significance after chief selector Ajit Agarkar and the selection committee decided to hand Shreyas the captaincy for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland and England, ending Suryakumar’s tenure just months after leading India to the T20 World Cup title.READ ALSO: SKYfall: Why India switched by Suryakumar Yadav – The numbers behind the end of the SKY eraWarm hugs, warm words from SuryakumarDespite the dramatic change in management, there was no sign of bitterness between the two long-time teammates from Mumbai.Before the match, Suryakumar and Shreyas shared a warm embrace, reflecting the friendship built over years of representing Mumbai and India together.Suryakumar publicly endorsed his successor at the draw, calling the appointment a proud moment for Mumbai cricket.“Very, very, very happy for Shreyas as he gets to lead the Indian T20 team. We played a lot of cricket together in Mumbai. Three captains from Mumbai back to back will lead the T20 for India. It’s a very proud moment and everyone has to celebrate,” he said.Earlier in the day, Suryakumar also wished the Indian team well on social media and congratulated teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for getting his first India call-up.The selectors admitted that removing Suryakumar as captain was difficult, especially after his World Cup triumph earlier this year. But with the next cycle of the T20 World Cup in mind, they opted for a new management direction and put their faith in Shreyas’ credentials and consistency.