Former Team India captain Kapil Dev has shared his views on making Shreyas Iyer the T20 captain of India in place of Suryakumar Yadav. The change in captaincy surprised many fans and experts, especially after India’s strong performances in this format, including the T20 World Cup 2026 win on home soil under Suryakumar’s captaincy.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on June 6 announced a 16-member squad for the upcoming T20I tours of Ireland and England. Shreyas Iyer was appointed captain, while Tilak Verma was made vice-captain. Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav was dropped from the team due to a decline in form.
The selectors must have thought about it – Kapil Dev on replacing Suryakumar Yadav with Shreyas Iyer
Kapil Dev believes the selectors would have carefully considered their decision before replacing Suryakumar Yadav as India’s T20I captain. The former Indian captain said that the move would have been taken after detailed discussions between the selection panel and the team management.
“I think the selectors must have thought about it and that’s why they made the change. Only the selectors can give a better answer, or people who are closely associated with the game, like senior players and television experts, can comment on it.”
Delhi: When asked about Shreyas Iyer being made India’s T20 captain in place of Suryakumar Yadav, former Indian cricketer Kapil Dev says, “I think the selectors must have thought about it and that is why they made the change. Only the selectors can give a better answer, or who… pic.twitter.com/jvf5ustjt7
– IANS (@ians_india) June 8, 2026
Shreyas Iyer will begin his tenure as India’s T20I captain when the team faces Ireland in the first match of the two-match series in Belfast on June 26, 2026. Although Iyer has not played any T20I since December 2023, he brings a lot of experience to the role.
He has led Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL title and has also taken Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings to the IPL finals. Iyer made his T20I debut against New Zealand in Delhi in November 2017. He has played 51 T20Is and scored 1,104 runs in 47 innings at an average of 30.66 and a strike rate of 136.12, which included eight fifties.
IPL is the most important tournament in the world – Kapil Dev on Team India selection
Kapil Dev believes that IPL plays a major role in shaping India’s national teams. The former Indian captain said the tournament gives the selectors the best platform to assess players, monitor their form and identify the right candidates for various roles in the team.
“Obviously the IPL is the most important tournament in the world and the selectors will be looking at who is playing, you know, what type of cricket. The selectors have a choice now. They have got people who can fit into the team in the right places.”
Delhi: When former Indian cricketer Kapil Dev was asked what impact IPL has on the selection process, he said, “Definitely IPL is the most important tournament in the world and the selector will be looking at who is playing, you know what type of cricket and the selector has… pic.twitter.com/VWYAGNMjYd
– IANS (@ians_india) June 8, 2026
Suryakumar Yadav’s successful captaincy tenure ends after T20 World Cup victory
Suryakumar Yadav has an excellent record as India’s T20I captain. Under his leadership, India remained unbeaten in bilateral T20I series and won both the Asia Cup 2026 and T20 World Cup 2026. He led India in 52 T20Is, winning 40 and losing only eight. Two matches ended without any result.
Despite those achievements, the BCCI removed Suryakumar from the captaincy ahead of the tour of Ireland and England and also dropped him from the T20 squad. Shreyas Iyer was made the new captain, while Tilak Verma was appointed as the vice-captain.
During India’s T20 World Cup 2026-winning campaign, he scored 242 runs in nine innings at an average of 30.25 and a strike rate of 136.72 with one half-century. He also struggled for runs with Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026, forcing the selectors to consider other options.
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