table of contents
The appointment of Shreyas Iyer as India’s T20I captain has sparked a widespread debate as he last made an appearance in this format for the national team in December, 2023. After being out for more than a few years, he has been appointed as the captain of the team for the shortest format.
Suryakumar Yadav did a commendable job as the leader of the team, winning the 2026 T20 World Cup after claiming the Asia Cup in 2025. It will not be an easy task for Iyer to fill the void left by the former. But some obvious points make Shreyas Iyer best suited for this role.
Proven leadership success in IPL and domestic cricket
As a captain, Shreyas Iyer is a proven talent. His achievements in the Indian Premier League season make him invaluable for a leadership role in the Men in Blue format. While Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni’s successes in the IPL have been limited to Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings respectively, Iyer has led three different teams to the final.
Under Shreyas Iyer, Kolkata Knight Riders won the league in 2024, and Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings reached the finals on separate occasions.
He led Mumbai to the title during the 2024–25 season of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. This was the same season that Iyer also won the IPL title with Kolkata, making him the first player to win both the SMAT and IPL titles as captain in the same calendar year.
Agreement with Gautam Gambhir
There are reports that there are some doubts over the relationship between Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir and newly appointed captain Shreyas Iyer. But there is no concrete evidence that can prove those reports.
Despite claims against the relationship between Gambhir and Iyer, the combination of Gambhir and Iyer helped Kolkata Knight Riders win their third IPL title in 2024. Without a strong understanding between them, the franchise may have had to forfeit the title.
Provides flexibility and batting depth in the middle order
The inclusion of Shreyas Iyer in the T20Is will provide additional depth and balance to the playing combination, as the 31-year-old has played many high-class innings even with the extra burden on his shoulders.
His batting averages in the IPL 2025 and IPL 2026 seasons with Punjab Kings were 50.33 and 55.33 respectively. In their final group match during the 2026 campaign, Shreyas Iyer marched into a must-win situation with a brilliant, unbeaten century.
Shreyas Iyer is a proven match-winner for India
In the past, right-handed batsmen have single-handedly achieved many victories for the national team. In Dharamsala, during a T20I match against Sri Lanka, he came to bat early in the innings and played the match deciding innings. Thanks to his unbeaten 74 runs, India easily won over Sri Lanka.
In March 2025, during the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy, he finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer, helping him earn the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award.
In 2022, when India suffered consecutive defeats against West Indies in ODIs, Shreyas Iyer came in and scored 63 runs in 71 balls to stabilize the innings. Ultimately India won the match.