Shreyas Iyer Takes Charge as India's T20I Captain
Shreyas Iyer's New Role
Shreyas Iyer, the newly appointed captain for India's T20I team, expressed that he was not taken aback by his selection for this leadership role. He has succeeded Suryakumar Yadav, who was completely dropped from the squad following the 2026 IPL season after leading the team to a World Cup victory. The selectors opted for Iyer for the upcoming tour of the UK, which features two T20 matches against Ireland and five against England, despite competition from Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma for the captaincy. Additionally, Iyer has been named captain of the Indian men's cricket team for the Asian Games later this year. Although Iyer has been building a strong reputation as a captain in the IPL, many did not foresee his appointment due to his absence from the T20I squad for three years prior to his recent inclusion, which saw him benched during the World Cup.
Shreyas Iyer Discusses His Captaincy
In an interview with BCCI.TV, Iyer remarked, "Honestly speaking, it's not outlandish. I was expecting it at some point of time. I have done brilliantly in the previous IPL tournaments, whenever I have represented the country. So, it did not come to me as a surprise. But, at the same time, I feel it's a great opportunity for me to learn from everyone around who has been part of the T20 World Cup-winning squad, the team management, support staff, and also a few individuals who have played." Under the guidance of head coach Ricky Ponting, Iyer led the Punjab Kings to their first final in nearly a decade in 2025. Although Punjab started strong in the 2026 IPL, they faltered in the latter half and missed out on the playoffs. Over the last two IPL seasons, Iyer has scored 992 runs at an impressive strike rate exceeding 145, reinforcing his credentials as a leader. In 2024, he made history by reaching the IPL finals with two different teams, steering the Kolkata Knight Riders to their third championship.
Despite limited opportunities in T20Is, Iyer has established himself as a key player in the ODI format and continued to perform well in domestic cricket. He shared, "As a kid, you always dreamt of playing for the Indian team. Now, you are leading the Indian team. I think it's icing on the cake. It means the world." He acknowledged that his success is a result of hard work and the unwavering support from fans, family, and friends.