Shubman Gill to replace Suryakumar Yadav as India captain for T20 World Cup 2026

Team India opener Shubman Gill is reportedly set to become the T20I captain of the national cricket team ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026. According to reports, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is likely to hand Gill the reins amid current skipper Suryakumar Yadav's poor form with the bat.

Gill endured a disappointing Asia Cup 2025 campaign despite India clinching the title in the final against Pakistan. The opener, who made his T20I return after a year, failed to replicate the success he enjoyed in IPL 2025 and the recent Test series in England.

Shubman Gill ended the tournament with just 127 runs from seven matches at an average of 21.16 and a strike rate of 151.19. The right-handed batter managed only 12 runs off 10 balls in the summit clash.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

Shubman Gill Likely to Lead Team India in T20 World Cup 2026

Times of India journalist Sahil Malhotra said that Shubman Gill would lead Team India in the T20 World Cup 2026. Malhotra mentioned that he had made this claim four weeks earlier, expressing confidence that the leadership would change hands.

"You’re forgetting what I said four weeks ago. I had already told you that Shubman Gill will captain India in the World Cup. Mark my words, make it a reel again. This isn’t just some YouTuber’s claim. I’m saying it to you directly. The captaincy will change," Malhotra said.

🚨 Shubman Gill will become the Captain in T20WC 2026, there will be a change in captaincy. 🚨 @Sahil_Malhotra1 reports on TOI Sports. pic.twitter.com/v7YEg1Z4nL

— Ahmed Says (@AhmedGT_) September 29, 2025

India Target Rare ICC Trophy Hat-Trick Ahead of T20 World Cup 2026

India are eyeing a rare hat-trick of ICC trophies as they prepare to host the T20 World Cup 2026. They won the T20 World Cup 2024 and the Champions Trophy 2025. The Suryakumar Yadav-led team secured the Asia Cup 2025 title unbeaten.

The team has undergone a transition under Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership despite the retirements of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja. Since their World Cup triumph in 2024, India have won 24 T20Is from 27 matches with a win rate of nearly 89% and a win-loss ratio of 7.33.

Gautam Gambhir’s side will be overwhelming favorites, especially with conditions to their strengths. The Indian attack has experienced spinners like Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Varun Chakravarthy to make the most of the subcontinent conditions.

Suryakumar Yadav Will Aim to Get Back Among the Runs

India won the Asia Cup 2025 unbeaten. They started the campaign by winning all three group matches and carried their form into the Super 4 stage and the final. Notably, it was their ninth Asia Cup triumph.

Suryakumar Yadav earned praise for his leadership but endured a lean run with the bat. He scored an unbeaten 47 against Pakistan in the group stage but struggled for consistency, managing just 72 runs across six innings at a strike rate barely above 100.

However, Suryakumar guided India to yet another continental trophy, their fourth in five editions. The Men in Blue will now shift focus to a five-match T20I series against Australia in October, where their captain will hope to rediscover his form.

Also read: Pakistan Test squad for South Africa announced; Saim Ayub dropped