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Former Indian cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has admitted the Indian Premier League (IPL) has completely changed the way Indian cricket identifies future leaders after Shreyas Iyer got India’s T20I captaincy on the back of remarkably different IPL stints.
Iyer led the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to the IPL title back in 2024 and then the Punjab Kings to the IPL finals in 2025. Before that, the Mumbaikar also led Delhi Capitals to the IPL 2020 final.
His calm and smart captaincy impressed the national selectors so much that they sacked Suryakumar Yadav and handed the baton to Iyer as the Men in Blue began the new era with the Ireland tour. Apart from Iyer, Axar Patel, Ishan Kishan, Rishabh Pant, Riyan Parag, and Sanju Samson have also impressed many.
Sanjay Manjrekar credits IPL for creating Indian captains
Recently, Sanjay Manjrekar was asked to share his views on how the IPL is shaping the future leaders for the Indian cricket team. The well-known cricket pundit has acknowledged that the IPL has now become the biggest platform where players prove not only their batting and bowling skills but also their captaincy abilities.
Speaking about Shreyas Iyer's rise as India's new T20I captain, Manjrekar said the IPL has played a huge role in shaping his leadership journey. Sanjay Manjrekar wants Rohit Sharma dropped from India's 2027 World Cup plans.
Over the last few years, Shreyas Iyer has led different IPL franchises and shown that he can handle pressure, build strong teams, and deliver results even in difficult situations.
Everything is happening in Indian cricket is IPL effect: Sanjay Manjrekar
Manjrekar pointed out that things were very different before the IPL existed. In those days, selectors had fewer opportunities to judge whether a player had the qualities to become a successful captain.
But now, every IPL season gives the Indian selectors a clear picture of which players are ready to take the high-pressure job. He also admitted that many decisions in India's T20I setup are now influenced by IPL performances.
Sanjay Manjrekar said on Sony Liv: “Nowadays, everything that is happening in Indian cricket is the IPL effect. So, we'll be staying connected, and this is something understandable; the T20 team and IPL are T20 tournaments, but yeah.”
From spotting talent to identifying leaders - the IPL has changed the game.💥
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) June 26, 2026
Sanjay Manjrekar shares why the league's impact on Indian cricket goes far beyond T20s. #SonySportsNetwork #SonyLIV pic.twitter.com/djw7sgXECU
Shreyas Iyer's captaincy era begins as India delay Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's much-awaited debut
Meanwhile, India's new T20 era has officially begun with the first match against Ireland on Friday, June 26, in Belfast after winning the 2026 T20 World Cup. It is also Shreyas Iyer's first game as India's full-time T20I captain. After winning the toss against Ireland, India decided to bowl first in Belfast.
There was huge excitement around 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, with many expecting him to make his India debut and become the country's youngest international cricketer. However, the young batting sensation will have to wait for his chance, as India decided to stick with Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma as their openers with Ishan Kishan batting at number three.
India playing XI: Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna
Ireland playing XI: Tim Tector, Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk/c), Benjamin Calitz, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Liam McCarthy, Matthew Humphreys, Jai Moondra, and Matthew Hollard
