Suryakumar Yadav has been relieved of his duties as India’s T20 captain just 72 hours before the national selectors are set to gather in Mumbai to finalise the squads for the upcoming tours of Ireland and England.

According to sources quoted by The Telegraph, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has ratified the recommendation made by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel to appoint a new T20 captain in preparation for the 2028 World Cup and the Los Angeles Olympics. The frontrunners for the captaincy include Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson, and Tilak Varma, with head coach Gautam Gambhir expected to make the final decision. It remains uncertain whether Suryakumar has been officially informed of the selectors’ decision.

The Telegraph had earlier reported, soon after the World Cup in March, that the selectors were looking to the future and were reluctant to continue backing the 35-year-old. Suryakumar’s prolonged run of poor performances appears to have reinforced that view. Apart from an unbeaten 84 against the USA in India’s World Cup opener at the Wankhede Stadium, the captain struggled to make significant contributions throughout the tournament. His recent form in the IPL was also underwhelming, managing 270 runs across 13 innings at a strike rate of 147.54.

Shreyas Iyer’s leadership qualities, tactical clarity, and ability to adapt his game to situational demands have impressed the selection committee. Sanju Samson, known to share a strong rapport with Gautam Gambhir, played a pivotal role in India’s successful World Cup defence at home and maintained his aggressive form through the IPL season.

Tilak Varma, at 23, is also being viewed as a potential leader due to his calm temperament and composure under pressure. The Mumbai Indians are reportedly considering him for their captaincy role from next season, further strengthening his credentials.

Although Shreyas last featured in a T20 International in September 2025 and will need to reclaim a place in the playing XI, his impressive captaincy record with Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Punjab Kings makes him a strong contender for the national leadership role.

Suryakumar thus becomes the second Indian captain to be removed shortly after securing an ICC trophy, following Rohit Sharma’s exit from the ODI leadership soon after guiding India to the Champions Trophy title in 2025.

Sooryavanshi dilemma

The selectors are also considering the inclusion of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the squads ahead of Saturday’s selection meeting. The young sensation has made a strong case for himself with his explosive performances in the IPL, where he dominated bowling attacks in his first full season. However, the question remains whether bringing him in would disrupt the well-settled opening partnership of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma.