Shreyas Iyer Appointed T20I Captain for England and Ireland Tours
Iyer's Leadership Backed by Coaching Staff
In Mumbai, Indian spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule has expressed strong support for Shreyas Iyer, highlighting his "ideal leadership qualities" and commitment to excelling in every match.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently revealed the T20I squads for the upcoming tours to England and Ireland in 2026, naming Iyer as captain and Tilak Varma as vice-captain. Notably, Suryakumar Yadav, who led India to victory in the 2026 T20 World Cup, has been left out of the squad for these tours.
Iyer's ascent to the role of T20I captain follows a successful stint in the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he guided the Kolkata Knight Riders to their first championship in a decade in 2024, and previously led the Punjab Kings in 2025 and the Delhi Capitals in 2020.
During an episode of The Great Indian Cricket Show on Doordarshan, Bahutule, along with cricket analysts Aakash Chopra, Pravin Amre, and Wasim Jaffer, discussed Iyer's new captaincy role. The panel unanimously praised Iyer's strategic thinking, decisive nature, and player-centric approach.
Bahutule remarked on Iyer's calmness and team culture, stating, "Shreyas embodies ideal leadership traits. He consistently seeks to contribute to the team's success and understands both his own game and that of his players, allowing them the freedom to express themselves. His composed presence on the field provides clarity for the team."
Aakash Chopra added that Iyer "leads by example," emphasizing his deep understanding of the game and ability to make quick decisions, which is crucial in the fast-paced T20 format.
Pravin Amre praised Iyer's confidence as a captain, noting his willingness to make difficult choices on the field. "I admire the confidence he brings to the role. He does not shy away from tough decisions and fully supports them," Amre stated.
Wasim Jaffer highlighted Iyer's solid batting technique and fearless attitude, saying, "He is tactically astute. In T20 cricket, players need the freedom to excel, and Iyer is unafraid to make crucial decisions on the spot. His captaincy does not hinder his performance; he has great self-belief and trusts his abilities."
The Indian squad for the 2026 England tour includes: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Prince Yadav, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
For the Ireland tour in 2026, the squad comprises: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Ravi Bishnoi, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Ishan Kishan, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube, Varun Chakaravarthy, Prince Yadav, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.