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Former Indian cricketer turned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has admitted that the Indian Premier League (IPL) has completely changed the way Indian cricket identifies future leaders as Shreyas Iyer got the India T20 captaincy due to a remarkably different IPL stint.
Iyer led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to the IPL title in 2024 and then led Punjab Kings to the IPL final in 2025. Earlier, the Mumbaikar had also led Delhi Capitals to the final of IPL 2020.
His calm and smart captaincy so impressed the national selectors that they sacked Suryakumar Yadav and handed over the reins to Iyer as the Men in Blue began the new era with the Ireland tour. Apart from Iyer, Akshar Patel, Ishan Kishan, Rishabh Pant, Ryan Parag and Sanju Samson have also impressed.
Sanjay Manjrekar credits IPL for grooming Indian captains
Recently, Sanjay Manjrekar was asked to share his views on how the IPL is shaping future leaders for the Indian cricket team. The renowned cricket pundit has opined that IPL has now become the biggest platform where players prove not only their batting and bowling skills but also their captaincy abilities.
Speaking about Shreyas Iyer’s emergence as India’s new T20I captain, Manjrekar said that the IPL has played a huge role in shaping his leadership journey. Sanjay Manjrekar wants Rohit Sharma to be left out of India’s 2027 World Cup plans.
Over the years, Shreyas Iyer has led various IPL franchises and shown that he can handle pressure, build strong teams and deliver results even in difficult situations.
Whatever is happening in Indian cricket is the effect of IPL: Sanjay Manjrekar
Manjrekar pointed out that things were very different before IPL came into existence. In those days, selectors had less opportunities to decide whether a player had the qualities to become a successful captain or not.
But now, every IPL season gives a clear picture to the Indian selectors about which players are ready to take up the high-pressure job. He also admitted that many decisions in India’s T20I setup are now influenced by IPL performances.
“Nowadays, whatever is happening in Indian cricket is the influence of IPL. So, we will be connected, and that is something to understand; the T20 team and the IPL are T20 tournaments, but yes,” Sanjay Manjrekar said on Sony Liv.
From spotting talent to identifying leaders – IPL has changed the game.
Sanjay Manjrekar explains why the league has more influence on Indian cricket than T20. #SonySportsNetwork #SonyLIV pic.twitter.com/djw7sgXECU
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) June 26, 2026
Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy era begins as India delay Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s much-awaited debut
Meanwhile, India’s new T20 era after winning the 2026 T20 World Cup has officially started with the first match against Ireland in Belfast on Friday, June 26. This is also Shreyas Iyer’s first game as India’s full-time T20I captain. India won the toss against Ireland in Belfast and decided to bowl first.
There was a lot of excitement around 15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, with many expecting him to make his India debut and become the country’s youngest international cricketer. However, the young batting sensation will have to wait for his chance, as India have decided to keep Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma as openers, while Ishan Kishan will bat at number three.
India’s playing XI: Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Verma, Shivam Dubey, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna
Ireland’s playing XI: Tim Tector, Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk/c), Benjamin Callitz, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Liam McCarthy, Matthew Humphries, Jai Mundra, Matthew Hollard.