India entered a new era in T20I cricket on Saturday with Shreyas Iyer replacing Suryakumar Yadav as captain, with the latter’s reign coming to an end despite having lead the country to a T20 World Cup triumph in his last assignment just over two months ago. In a move that signals a clear shift in direction ahead of the next global cycle, the selectors not only handed Iyer the leadership role but also omitted Surya from all three T20I squads announced on Saturday.
The decision was among the most significant takeaways from the BCCI’s selection meeting, which unveiled squads for the Ireland and England T20I series as well as the Asian Games. While the selection of teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi grabbed plenty of attention, the leadership change marked the beginning of a fresh chapter for India’s shortest-format side.
The chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar, said Iyer had built a compelling case for the role through his leadership record and consistent performances over the last few years.
“With regards to Shreyas, we have seen what he has done over the last few years. Leading different franchises, won finals once and probably had a tougher season this year after a great start. So, we have seen everything that a captain possibly can,” Agarkar said.