Not Shreyas Iyer! Sanju Samson To Replace Suryakumar Yadav As India's T20I Captain: Report

Last Updated:May 09, 2026, 08:19 IST

Sanju Samson is a leading contender for India's T20I captaincy after stellar World Cup and IPL form, with Suryakumar Yadav's poor form and Shreyas Iyer out of the current setup.

Sanju Samson has reportedly emerged as a leading contender to take over the T20I captaincy of the Indian men’s cricket team, following his remarkable performances over the last few months.

According to a report in Jagran, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selection committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar, has been highly impressed with Samson’s consistency, temperament, and leadership credentials in the shortest format.

Sanju Samson played a pivotal role in India’s victorious ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign, eventually winning the Player of the Tournament award despite not featuring in the initial matches. The wicketkeeper-batter was initially overlooked, as the team management, led by Gautam Gambhir, preferred Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan at the top of the order.

However, once recalled to the playing XI, Samson delivered under pressure with a match-winning, unbeaten 97 against the West Indies in a must-win encounter. He followed it up with crucial knocks of 89 against both the England and the New Zealand in the knockout stages.

Reports suggest that Samson could be handed the captaincy for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland and England after the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season.

SKY’s Poor Form

If the selectors decide against an immediate change, current skipper Suryakumar Yadav may continue temporarily, although his recent form remains under scrutiny.

Suryakumar has struggled significantly in IPL 2026, scoring only 195 runs in 10 matches at an average of 19.52. His underwhelming returns in the T20 World Cup, apart from a notable innings against the USA, have further intensified discussions around a leadership transition.

Why Not Shreyas Iyer?

Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer was also considered a possible captaincy option, but reports indicate that his absence from India’s T20I setup since December 2023 has worked against him. The selectors reportedly believe Iyer must first cement his place back in the squad before being considered for leadership responsibilities.

Sanju’s Form

Samson’s strong IPL form for Chennai Super Kings, where he has already crossed 400 runs with multiple centuries this season, along with his prior captaincy experience at Rajasthan Royals, has further strengthened his case as India’s next T20I leader.

News cricket Not Shreyas Iyer! Sanju Samson To Replace Suryakumar Yadav As India's T20I Captain: Report

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