It has been nearly three months since Suryakumar Yadav captained India to a memorable triumph at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, but discussions around the team’s long-term leadership have already started gaining momentum. Despite guiding India to the title and maintaining a strong record as captain, Suryakumar’s prolonged struggles with the bat have become a growing concern for selectors and team management.

The stylish batter has endured a difficult run across formats in recent months, and his form in IPL 2026 has done little to silence criticism. While India still has time before the next T20 World Cup in 2028, reports suggest the management could eventually consider grooming a new captain if Suryakumar’s batting slump continues.

One of the strongest contenders to emerge for the future leadership role is Sanju Samson. The wicketkeeper-batter has transformed himself into one of India’s most dependable T20 performers over the last year, and his remarkable performances in the 2026 T20 World Cup significantly boosted his reputation as both a player and a potential leader.

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Former India head coach Ravi Shastri believes Samson has firmly entered the captaincy conversation. Speaking on The ICC Review, Shastri admitted that India may eventually need to reassess their T20 leadership depending on how Suryakumar progresses over the next couple of seasons.

“India, come the next T20 World Cup in 2028, might be looking for a new captain, depending on how Surya goes over the next couple of years,” Ravi Shastri said. “But Sanju Samson has put himself there for a leadership role because he’s done that in the past for Rajasthan Royals,” he added.

Samson’s rise over the last year has been dramatic. Before the T20 World Cup, the Kerala batter was struggling for consistency and was no longer viewed as a guaranteed starter in India’s playing XI. However, once the tournament reached the business end, Samson completely changed the narrative around his career.

He produced three consecutive match-winning performances under pressure and emerged as India’s batting hero during the knockout stages. Samson smashed an unbeaten 97 against the West Indies cricket team in a must-win Super Eight clash before scoring 89 against the England cricket team in the semifinal. He followed it up with another brilliant 89 in the final as India lifted the T20 World Cup trophy.

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Those performances earned him the Player of the Tournament award and established him as one of the most influential cricketers in India’s T20 setup. Shastri also praised Samson’s maturity and consistency in IPL 2026. After being traded from the Rajasthan Royals to the Chennai Super Kings last year, Samson initially struggled to make an impact. However, he has bounced back strongly with two centuries this season, helping revive Chennai’s playoff hopes.

“I think he has put a lid on all those question marks,” Ravi Shastri said. “The maturity he’s showing now in the IPL makes him a clear case for leadership in the future,” he added.