Sanju Samson is reportedly among the top contenders to replace Suryakumar Yadav as India’s T20I captain, with Shreyas Iyer the other one.
The days of Suryakumar Yadav as India’s T20I skipper appear to be coming to an end, as reports and sources point to players who are prepared to succeed him. Sanju Samson is reportedly in the running for India’s next T20I captain, according to a second report that followed NDTV’s announcement that Shreyas Iyer is being considered. Since joining the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, the wicket-keeper batter has had an incredible run of success with the bat. Despite not being the team’s captain, he appears to be in the running because to his prior leadership experience with the Rajasthan Royals and his general reputation as a captain.
In June and July, the Indian team will go to England and Ireland for a white-ball series. IPL results will play a major role in choosing the squad for these trips. Sanju Samson and Shreyas Iyer are two of the best run scorers in this category, but Suryakumar Yadav’s performance has been somewhat subpar.
Sanju Samson, why?
Samson’s steady presence in the Indian T20 team is a factor that helps him in the competition to replace Suryakumar as India’s next T20I captain, according to a report in Dainik Jagran.
He has demonstrated his abilities on the global scene and has been a member of the team since the 2024 T20 World Cup. He has amassed 1,399 runs in 62 games, including three hundreds and six half-centuries. Additionally, he played a significant role in India’s victory in the T20 World Cup earlier this year.
According to the report, Iyer has not played for the T20 international team despite being in fine form and collecting runs for Punjab Kings in the IPL this season. On December 3, 2023, he participated in his final Twenty20 match for India. Therefore, even for a player of Iyer’s calibre, going back to the shortest format and being named captain might be too much of a leap.
According to reports, the BCCI selection committee may continue to use Suryakumar for the T20Is between England and Ireland, but he may be replaced if he continues to play poorly.
