The future of Suryakumar Yadav as India’s T20I captain has reportedly come under fresh scrutiny, with selectors considering a leadership change following his prolonged struggles with the bat. According to recent reports, the selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar is expected to meet after IPL 2026 to finalise the squad for the upcoming two-match T20I series against Ireland, followed by a five-match series in England.

The report claims that Shreyas Iyer is not only set for a return to India’s T20I setup but is also emerging as a leading candidate to replace Suryakumar as captain. Despite guiding India to the 2026 T20 World Cup title earlier this year, Surya’s batting form throughout the tournament reportedly raised concerns within the selection panel.

The Mumbai Indians star scored 242 runs in nine innings during the World Cup campaign, but a significant chunk of those runs came in the opening game against the USA. Since then, inconsistency with the bat has remained a talking point.

ALSO READ: BCCI Issues Strict Warning To IPL Teams Over Protocol Violations and Honey Trapping Risks

Even though Suryakumar has publicly expressed his ambition to captain India at the 2028 T20 World Cup and the Los Angeles Olympics, selectors are believed to be evaluating long-term options.

🚨 SURYAKUMAR YADAV SET TO BE REMOVED AS THE T20I CAPTAIN. 🚨

Selectors to move on from Surya as captain when they pick the squad for Ireland and England series.

– Shreyas Iyer likely to be announced as India’s new T20i skipper. (TOI). pic.twitter.com/4m5NVtGCI6

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 8, 2026

The report also revealed that the 35-year-old has been managing a wrist issue since the previous IPL season. During both IPL 2026 and the T20 World Cup, Surya was regularly seen with heavy taping on his right wrist while batting and fielding, indicating ongoing discomfort.

A combination of form concerns, fitness issues, and age could ultimately influence the selectors’ final decision regarding the T20I captaincy.

ALSO READ: KKR Taking Injury Precaution With Matheesha Pathirana Ahead Of IPL 2026 Return

Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer’s leadership credentials continue to impress. After captaining Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL title in 2024, he followed it up by leading Punjab Kings to a runners-up finish the following season, strengthening his case for a leadership role with India once again.