Suryakumar Yadav's Captaincy Dismissed: R Ashwin Supports His Comeback

Suryakumar Yadav's Surprising Ouster

The selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, made a controversial decision to remove Suryakumar Yadav from his role as captain, despite his success in leading India to victory at the 2026 T20 World Cup. Alongside this, he has also been excluded from the national squad, casting doubt on his future in international cricket. However, R Ashwin has expressed his belief in Suryakumar's potential return. On his YouTube channel, Ashwin stated that while he supports Suryakumar's comeback as a batter, he is uncertain about the likelihood of this happening, even if Suryakumar performs well. "Where will he play? If he excels in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, a comeback is possible. Captaincy is challenging at the moment. He has two crucial tournaments ahead. He must shine in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and then in the IPL. We shouldn't shut the door on anyone, but given how he was dropped, I have my doubts," Ashwin remarked.

Shreyas Iyer has stepped in as the new T20I captain, taking over from Suryakumar. His appointment follows a stellar performance in the IPL. Unfortunately, Iyer's captaincy debut was less than ideal, as India faced a 2-0 whitewash against Ireland and suffered a 0-4 defeat in a five-match T20I series against England.

Suryakumar's Record as Captain

India's Success Under Suryakumar

During Suryakumar Yadav's tenure as captain, India did not lose any bilateral series. He led the team to an impressive 42 victories out of 52 matches and secured the 2025 Asia Cup trophy. His selection as captain was unexpected, as he surpassed Hardik Pandya, who had served as Rohit Sharma's deputy during the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2023 ODI World Cup. Pandya has been sidelined due to fitness issues but is anticipated to return for the series against West Indies in September.