Suryakumar ruthless, will be tough for voters to watch: R Ashwin

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has questioned the selectors’ decision to drop Suryakumar Yadav from India’s T20I set-up, calling it a “landmark” and “reckless” call that could set a difficult precedent going forward.

India’s selection committee was appointed on Saturday Shreyas Iyer as new T20I captain for the upcoming tour of Ireland and England and the Asian Games later this year. The decision brought an abrupt end to Suryakumar’s tenure less than three months after he led India to a successful defense of the T20 World Cup title.

Chief voter Ajit Agarkar said the move was driven by the team’s form and plans for the next T20 World Cup cycle. Ashwin, however, felt that Suryakumar had earned the right to make one final case for himself, especially in the high-profile series against England.

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Ashwin said the decision was a significant moment in Indian cricket and admitted he was surprised at the way the World Cup-winning captain was left out. He argued that while Suryakumar’s batting form had dipped over the past 18 months, his contribution as captain should have factored into the decision.

“Look, I think it’s a very interesting precedent, if I may say so. I just want to put myself in Suryakumar Yadav’s shoes and think, for example, how he would feel at this moment. I’m sure every player has a right to be gutted about being left out of the side, and that’s fair if he felt bad about it, but the whole little app thing is.

“Because in my head I’m thinking, okay, I’m the T20 World Cup-winning captain. I’m just putting myself in Surya’s shoes and thinking about it. Sure, my batting form in the last 18 months or 15 months or whatever. I wasn’t in the best shape I could have been. But then I managed to win the T20 World Cup as the best country.” batsman, but surely, like everyone else in the team – the coach, the vice-captain, the most efficient batsman, the most efficient bowler – he was also the most efficient captain, right?

India T20 Team Selection: How It Happened

Ashwin said he understood the selectors’ long-term mindset but felt Suryakumar had earned the right to fight for his place.

“I saw Ajit’s press conference and I like what he said: we’re planning for the next two years, which is a pretty good way of looking at it. But is there a possibility that they could have given Surya a bit more time? And if you feel he’s not a fit in your XI, he might get that big England series to ask again, to prove that after what a batsman like that has had, he deserves to think he belongs in his place? career.

“Has there been a case where a T20 World Cup-winning captain has been left out without any ultimatum? I’m sure there was communication. I have no doubt about that. But if you ask me, it’s quite a selection milestone because it will be seen as a kind of precedent the next time something like this happens. And let’s not forget that the match is expected to be forgetful of the batters, T2 You want them to play high-stakes cricket and so my question is: could the captain of the defending champions get a slightly better offer than what he got?”

The decision was considered one of the toughest selections in the recent history of Indian cricket. World Cup winning captains have either left the format or continue to be supported by selectors. Suryakumar’s removal from the helm and as captain so soon after a title-winning campaign marks a rare departure from this trend.

Ashwin also spoke about the appointment of Shreyas Iyer, who returns to the Indian T20I side for the first time since December 2023.

“Very recently we had this conversation about Shreyas deserving to get into the T20 side. I’m all for it. But then again, if I’m one of the other 14 members of the T20 World Cup winning side, I look at each other and think, ‘Hey, have we been here for a while?’

“One thing that probably worked in Shreyas’s favor is that he won the IPL as skipper for KKR in the recent past. That probably worked in his favour. I wouldn’t give any black mark on the fact that he has been a great captain in the IPL, he has got a lot of right tactics.”

However, Ashwin questioned whether the management succession plan remained consistent.

“But that means there are team ethos that need to be well in place. Axar Patel has been chosen as vice-captain and if the choice of vice-captain can’t become the next captain, then we’re going back in time and questioning things like that again.”

He concluded by saying that the selectors must now stay in line with the ruthless standards they applied in Suryakumar’s case.

“So I’m really hoping that in terms of solidarity and stability in terms of how these selections are made, they will be made in a ruthless manner as we’ve just seen. But it’s going to be hard to toe the line.”

India will begin their new T20I cycle with a two-match series in Ireland on June 26-28 before taking on England in a five-match T20I series from July 1-11. The squad also includes 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who became the youngest player ever to be selected for the Indian senior team.

– The end

Issued by:

Saurabh Kumar

Published on:

June 6, 2026 6:28 PM IST