Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav during the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. (ANI Photo) NEW DELHI: With back-to-back T20 World Cup titles in the bag, India have emerged as a powerhouse in the shortest format of cricket. The talent waiting in the wings is also huge. In two years, the Indian cricket team will be gearing up for two major events, the LA Olympics and the 2028 T20 World Cup.And when it comes to picking a 15-man squad, there is no rocket science in choosing a side largely based on form. The biggest example of this approach is Ishan Kishan. Since his comeback after a two-year hiatus, Southpaw has set the scene on fire.
Ahmedabad erupts as Team India arrives at the hotel after winning the T20 World Cup
He was selected in the Indian team after scoring a century in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final to lead Jharkhand to the title. In 13 matches since his return, the 27-year-old has amassed 532 runs at a success rate of 207. His 317 runs in the recently concluded T20 World Cup was the third highest behind Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan and teammate Sanju Samson.
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But the real question is who will replace the aging Suryakumar Yadav as India’s next T20I captain. The answer could come from the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) – just like head coach Gautam Gambhir’s successful tenure with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).IPL is the world’s best T20 league. Unlike the T20 World Cup, it is an even platform and all 10 teams are equally strong. So the selectors will have to keep their eyes open to see who can lead India as picking a T20I team with the amount of talent available is not a problem but picking the right captain will not be easy.Who are the contestants?
Axar Patel leads Delhi Capitals in IPL.
Of the 10 IPL teams, eight franchises have named Indian players as their captains. KKR are yet to announce their next captain while Pat Cummins will lead Sunrisers Hyderabad.Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is captained by Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has not been in the national team scheme since he led India to a gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.Reigning champions RCB captain Rajat Patidar is yet to make his international debut in the T20I format.Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya, who was tipped to take over from Rohit Sharma after the 2024 World Cup triumph, has not been handed the captain’s armband due to fitness issues. But come IPL 2026, he will be captained by current Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav.Axar Patel, 32, has always been the proverbial bridesmaid in Indian cricket. He was first named vice-captain after the 2024 T20 World Cup before being replaced by Shubman Gill and again anointed as Surya’s representative before the 2026 World Cup. Axar can be a good option but Delhi Capitals will have to win the trophy for that.
Lucknow Super Giants’ captain Rishabh Pant
Riyan Parag (24) has led Rajasthan in the absence of Sanju Samson during IPL 2025. But the youngster will have to cement his place in the national team first. There is no doubt that his bowling ability could make him a permanent face in the Indian team in the next cycle. His name also came up for selection when Washington Sundar got injured.28-year-old Rishabh Pant will also look to rediscover his T20I form, both with the bat and as the captain of Lucknow Super Giants. The southpaw has fallen off the radar and with Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan in top form, Pant may have to wait for his chance in this format.Then there is Shubman Gill of Gujarat Titans and Shreyas Iyer of Punjab Kings. Both have demonstrated leadership pedigree. Gill is the current captain of the Indian ODI and Test side, while Iyer led KKR to the IPL title in 2024 and Punjab Kings to the final in IPL 2025.
Shreyas Iyer (IPL Photo)
Shubman was tipped to be the next poster boy of Indian cricket and the successor to Suryakumar Yadav. However, he was surprisingly dropped from India’s T20 World Cup squad due to a team mix-up. Shreyas traveled with the team during the New Zealand series that preceded the T20 World Cup as cover for the injured Tilak Varma, but did not get a chance to play. In an ideal world, Shreyas would be the right man to lead India in the LA Olympics and the T20 World Cup.Sanju Samson is another option for the selectors to consider. The 2026 T20 World Cup champion led Rajasthan Royals in the IPL and is currently oozing with confidence after his Player of the Tournament performance.The IPL has long been India’s biggest laboratory for T20 cricket. Just as Gambhir’s IPL success opened the door to the national coaching job, IPL 2026 could quietly shape India’s next T20I captain. In a tournament where pressure, tactics and leadership are tested every night, the selectors may find the man to lead India into the next cycle.
