Shreyas Set to Replace Suryakumar as Indias T20I Captain, 15-Year-Old Sensation in Line for Maiden Call-Up

India’s T20I team is likely to undergo major changes. The chapter of Suryakumar Yadav as captain may come to an end, with Shreyas Iyer expected to take over the leadership role. At the same time, teenage batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi is set to receive his maiden national team call-up.

India’s T20I squad for the upcoming tours of Ireland and England will be announced next Saturday. This will be India’s first T20I series since winning the 2026 T20 World Cup. However, World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar could lose his place in the squad.

It is understood that the selectors have been concerned about the recent performances of the 35-year-old Suryakumar. Although he scored 242 runs in nine innings during the recently concluded T20 World Cup, his strike rate was below expectations. In the latest IPL season as well, he managed only 270 runs in 13 innings, leading to discussions among selectors about his position in the team.

On the other hand, despite being out of India’s T20I plans for a long time, Shreyas Iyer has returned to the spotlight through consistent performances in domestic and franchise cricket. Although he has not played a T20 International since December 2023, he has proven himself both as a leader and as a batter.

In the IPL, Shreyas led Kolkata Knight Riders to the 2024 title and also guided Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings to finals appearances. He has also scored heavily over the last two seasons, making 604 runs in the 2025 IPL and 498 runs in the 2026 season, maintaining an aggressive strike rate on both occasions.

This marks the second consecutive year in Indian cricket that a captaincy change is being considered after winning a major title. In 2025, Rohit Sharma was removed as ODI captain just months after India won the Champions Trophy, although he retained his place in the squad as a player.

Meanwhile, the biggest talking point is Vaibhav Suryavanshi. The 15-year-old batter impressed massively in the latest IPL season. He scored 776 runs throughout the tournament at an astonishing strike rate of over 237. If selected for the national team, he would become one of the youngest players ever to represent India’s men’s team since Sachin Tendulkar.

Before wearing the national jersey, Suryavanshi will represent India A in a tri-nation series in Sri Lanka, which will also feature Afghanistan.

India will play two T20Is against Ireland in Belfast on June 26 and 28. They will then travel to England for a five-match T20I series from July 1 to 11.