A shocking development has come to light regarding India’s T20I leadership. Star batter Suryakumar Yadav is reportedly set to be removed as India’s T20I captain after the T20 World Cup in 2026. The Indian cricket board is planning a leadership change once the global event is over.
According to reports, current vice-captain Shubman Gill is the frontrunner to replace Suryakumar. If the move happens, Gill could become India’s captain across all three international formats. This would mark a major shift in India’s long-term leadership plan.
Suryakumar Yadav‘s recent form has raised serious concerns. Since making his T20I debut in 2021, his performances have declined sharply in recent years. In 2025, the Mumbai batter managed only 218 runs in 21 matches. His average stood at just 13.62. Since 2024, he has not scored a single half-century in T20 internationals.
At 35 years of age, Suryakumar is also seen as a short-term option. The BCCI is believed to be keen on grooming a younger leader for the future. This has further added pressure on the current captain.
BCCI Delays Captaincy Change Ahead of World Cup
As reported by India Today, the selection committee wanted to remove Suryakumar earlier. However, the plan was delayed because the T20 World Cup is only a few months away. The team management does not want to experiment with captaincy before such a major tournament. As a result, Suryakumar’s stint has been extended for now.
Shubman Gill, though, has also struggled with the bat recently. In the series against South Africa, he scored only 32 runs. A leg injury ruled him out of the final match. Sanju Samson impressed in that game with a quick 37 off 21 balls. Gill will need strong performances to justify a captaincy promotion.
India Squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh.
