Iyer appointed India T20I captain ahead of Ireland and England series
The Board of Control for Cricket in India has appointed Shreyas Iyer as captain for the upcoming bilateral series, marking a significant shift in leadership following his consistent domestic and IPL performances.
Shreyas Iyer has been appointed captain of the Indian T20I team for the upcoming series against Ireland and England, replacing Suryakumar Yadav, who led the side to the recent T20 World Cup title. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selectors reached a consensus to move on from Yadav, citing Iyer’s consistent batting performances at No. 4 and his leadership record with the Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The decision follows a period of significant scrutiny for Iyer, who previously faced selector doubts and was omitted from Test and T20I squads due to his inability to convert starts in home Tests against England in 2024. Iyer stepped away from multi-day cricket, including the Ranji Trophy, due to persistent back injuries, prioritising his health over selection prospects despite the risk of further criticism.
Iyer’s path to the captaincy was complicated by a near-fatal fall while taking a catch during an ODI series in Australia, which required hospitalisation and a lengthy return-to-play process. He missed the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, a tournament that could have bolstered his case for T20I selection prior to the World Cup, and faced initial hesitancy from the BCCI medical team regarding fitness clearance parameters for multi-day cricket.
His resurgence was anchored by his role as a key middle-order anchor during India’s Champions Trophy victory, where he was instrumental in holding together the batting lineup on sluggish surfaces. This performance, combined with his leadership of the Punjab Kings in the IPL, strengthened his case for the top job, even as rumours circulated that head coach Gautam Gambhir was not in favour of the appointment.
Iyer virtually attended the selection meeting from Wankhede, where he is set to play in the T20 Mumbai League against a side led by Suryakumar Yadav. The appointment marks a definitive turnaround for the right-hander, who had previously lost his central contract and fallen off the radar despite a stellar 2023 ODI World Cup campaign, to now lead the national side in the shortest format.
