Ajit Agarkar softens stance on Shreyas Iyer, ready to make him India T20I captain

Middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer is emerging as a strong candidate to replace Suryakumar Yadav as India’s T20I captain. Amid Suryakumar’s prolonged slump, the Punjab Kings skipper is making a strong case with consistent performances as a batter and captain in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL).

Punjab Kings are the only unbeaten side in the season so far. They are at the top of the table with nine points. The team secured wins over the Gujarat Titans (GT), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), and Mumbai Indians (MI), while their match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) was washed out.

Shreyas Iyer is the only player to guide three different teams to Indian Premier League finals. He led Delhi Capitals (DC) in 2020, won the title with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024, and guided Punjab Kings to the 2025 final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

Iyer has carried that winning momentum into the IPL campaign alongside head coach Ricky Ponting. He is currently enjoying a sensational run for Punjab Kings in the 2026 season. Iyer has scored 203 runs in four innings at an aggressive strike rate of 187.96, including three half-centuries.

Last season, Iyer scored an impressive 604 runs in 17 matches for Punjab Kings. He also recently captained Mumbai to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title in 2024.

Shreyas Iyer Emerges as Key Option as India Reassess T20 Setup

Shreyas Iyer has moved into focus as India rethink their T20 setup, with Suryakumar Yadav’s prolonged slump creating a tough phase for Gautam Gambhir and the selectors.

According to a report by Times of India, Iyer is the most straightforward replacement if selectors decide to move on from Suryakumar. Despite being ODI vice-captain, he has not played a T20I since December 2023 and missed both the 2024 and 2026 T20 World Cups.

“Iyer last played a T20I in 2023. He has not been part of the current setup. It's a big call to bring him back and hand him the captaincy straightaway. The focus has shifted towards the 2027 ODI World Cup, which has given selectors breathing space to plan for a T20I leadership transition,” a BCCI source told TOI.

Once He Finds His Way Back into the Indian Team... - James Hopes

Shreyas Iyer has grown into a confident leader at Punjab Kings, improving his weaknesses and taking full control as captain. Coach James Hopes believes his game has matured, while his strong understanding with Ricky Ponting continues to support his leadership and batting.

“He's very aware of what his perceived weaknesses were over the years. He's come into this season having really nailed them. When he got hurt in Australia (in Oct last year), he was starting to nailing them in international cricket as well,” Hopes said here on Saturday. “Once he finds his way back into the Indian team, you'll see the batter he's going to be for the rest of his career. Captaincy improves his batting,” Hopes added.

Iyer has always been in a comfort zone around Ponting. As a captain, there's no need for handholding anymore. “He was very young when he was captaining Delhi. He's very well planned, but still follows his gut,” Hopes said. “Ricky and Shreyas work well together. When we get into our meetings, he's the captain. He steps up and he's got his own ideas, he's willing to listen,” he added.

Also read: Smriti Mandhana breaks record, surpasses Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, becomes India’s leading T20I run-scorer