Shreyas was a stand-out candidate with enough experience now, tough call on Surya, says Agarkar

India cricket chief selector Ajit Agarkar has appointed Shreyas Iyer as the new T20I captain, citing his IPL leadership experience. Suryakumar Yadav, despite leading India to the World Cup title, has been omitted due to form concerns and long-term planning

Mumbai: India chief selector Ajit Agarkar said Shreyas Iyer was a stand‑out candidate with the experience to become the new men’s T20I skipper, while admitting it was a tough call to move on altogether from Suryakumar Yadav despite him leading the team to winning the World Cup three months ago.

Suryakumar, 35, has struggled with the bat in recent months, managing only 242 runs in nine T20 World Cup innings, with his unbeaten 84 against the United States the lone standout. His form dipped further in IPL 2026, where he scored just 270 runs in 13 innings at an average of 20.76 as Mumbai Indians finished ninth in the ten‑team points table.

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With Shreyas taking over, Suryakumar has been totally omitted from the squads for tours of Ireland, England and the Asian Games. Iyer, 31, last played a T20I in December 2023 but boasts of strong captaincy credentials in the IPL. He led Kolkata Knight Riders to the title in 2024, guided Punjab Kings to a runners‑up finish in 2025, and steered Delhi Capitals to the final in 2020.

“I mean, with regards to Shreyas, obviously, we’ve seen what he’s done over the last few years, leading different franchises, obviously, won once, finals twice, and probably had a tougher season this year after a great start. So we’ve seen everything that a captain possibly can. His own performances have been really good.

“He was quite close to getting in that World Cup squad as well. Obviously, with Surya still there, there was no room for him. So he is, in my opinion, a standout candidate with enough experience now having led in the T20 format. This is obviously a different challenge,” said Agarkar in the press conference at BCCI HQ on Saturday.

On Suryakumar’s removal, Agarkar admitted it was a tough call. “With regards to Surya, obviously, it’s a tough one, having just won the World Cup. But as it happens, after most World Cups, you try and reassess what your best way forward is.

“Partly his own form, but also looking at the next two‑year cycle or a little bit more than two years now till the next World Cup. We thought this was the best way forward and like I said, Surya is a well‑deserving captain. I mean, of course, it’s a tough decision.

“Someone who’s led you to the World Cup, it’s not the easiest thing to try and change. But like I said, we’ve not had any international cricket after that World Cup. Partly the form, but partly also how we go forward is always at the back of your mind. Going ahead with a new captain, in this case, Shreyas, was in our opinion,” added Agarkar.

Tilak Varma has been named as the new vice‑captain and Agarkar stated it was another call made keeping the long-term vision in mind. “I mean, Shubman Gill was vice‑captain leading into that World Cup when we made a call to obviously have two keepers at the top and he missed out.

“Then Axar Patel was vice‑captain and just replacing Shubman Gill. So, no, I think we were, again, like Shreyas Iyer, obviously you’re looking at what’s the best thing for the next two‑year cycle. Tilak, firstly, he’s a terrific player and this gives him an opportunity to learn the job as well, just in case if that need arises ever.

Further speaking on Shreyas and Tilak, Agarkar explained, “It’s, again, this is a clean slate almost. We played the World Cup in USA and Caribbean in 2024 June, and this was sort of February, March, which is not even two years really. But the next one, we’ve got a bit more time.

“Like I said, I think Shreyas absolutely deserves it with his performances, one, particularly with the bat. I think first, he should be good enough to be a player in the team. Then his performances as captain, and obviously, having won it once with, GG was with him at KKR, and then a couple of really good seasons with Punjab.

“So, no, it’s perhaps a little bit unusual that he wasn’t, but he was very close to always being in the team over the last couple of years. It’s just that Surya and Tilak, the spots that he bats, were there, and he couldn’t find a spot. So, now that he’s found a spot, I think he’s, like I said, he’s earned it.”

On the conversation he had with Surya, Agarkar explained, “You look at, obviously, the form in the last couple of years. But he was the captain, we were doing really well as him – winning so many games, and eventually ending up winning the World Cup. Obviously, we deliberated a lot, especially when someone’s led you to a World Cup win.

“It’s not the easiest sort of discussion to have. But I don’t necessarily think – at some stage, we were going to look ahead. Now, whether I feel IPL form dictated it, I’m not so sure that’s the case. There was always conversations around it. With Shreyas playing as well as he is, I mean, particularly with the bat, sometimes makes the decision a little bit easier.”

“With regards to Sky, I don’t think I don’t want to give an insight. I mean, it’s like a conversation between Surya and me. Look, we know he’s been captain that’s just won a World Cup. So it’s not the easiest conversation when you want to tell the player that. But you’re doing everything in the interest of what the team needs going forward,” he concluded.