India’s selectors are likely to remove Suryakumar Yadav from the T20I captaincy after IPL 2026. The decision could be taken when the selectors meet to pick squads for the upcoming white-ball tour of Ireland and England.
According to reports, the team management is unhappy with Surya’s poor batting form in recent months. The next T20 cycle is very important for India as the team prepares for the 2028 T20 World Cup and the Los Angeles Olympics.
As things stand, Shreyas Iyer is the favourite to take over as captain. He is also expected to make a return to the T20I squad. The selectors reportedly want a fresh start and believe Iyer’s leadership success in the IPL gives him an advantage over other candidates.
Wrist injury concerns add to Surya’s problems
Surya guided India to the 2026 T20 World Cup title and also won the 2025 Asia Cup as captain. However, his batting performances have remained below expectations. In the 2026 T20 World Cup, he scored 242 runs in nine innings, with 84 of those runs coming against the USA. Apart from that innings, he struggled in pressure matches.
Since becoming full-time T20I captain in July 2024, Surya has scored only 932 runs in 45 matches. Reports also suggest that he has been managing a painful wrist problem for a long time.
Sources claimed that the right-hander regularly played with heavy taping on his wrist during matches and practice sessions. Before batting sessions, team doctor Dr Rizwan Khan often helped secure the wrist with cotton pads and brown tape.
When assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate was asked about it, he said, “It could be normal wear and tear.”
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