Suryakumar Yadav has been removed as the T20I captain of India National Cricket Team today as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the squad for three different tours, Ireland, England, and the Asian Games 2026, where Shreyas Iyer was named as the captain for the newly built squad for the upcoming tours of the shorter format.
After Shreyas was named captain, former cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin made comments on removing SKY as captain. He believes that the former India captain must have been given at least one more series because, as a leader, Suryakumar Yadav has been excellent for the Men in Blue. He has led the side to the T20 World Cup 2026 glory.
I’m just putting myself in Suryakumar Yadav’s shoes- Ravi Ashwin
“This is quite a landmark day in selection if you ask me. This will be taken as some sort of a precedent when the next time such a thing ever comes up. I’m just putting myself in Surya’s shoes and thinking about it. Okay, sure, my batting forms let me down over the last 18 months or 15 months or whatever it is.”
‘A landmark day in selection’ 🎙️ R Ashwin on Suryakumar Yadav being dropped from India’s T20I squad pic.twitter.com/oqC1Q5bZnG
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 6, 2026
Ravi Ashwin stated that he did not have the best of T20 World Cup as a batter but he led the side well. Ashwin while speaking on ESPNcricinfo said, “I haven’t been in the prime form that I could have been. But then, I managed to win a T20 World Cup for the country. Didn’t have the greatest of great World Cups as a batter.”
He’s also been the best-performing skipper- R Ashwin on SKY being India’s best T20I captain
“But surely, just like everyone else in the team, like the coach, like the vice-captain, like the best-performing batter, best-performing bowler, he’s also been the best-performing skipper, right? He’s played his part. I saw Ajit’s press conference, and I like what he said, for the next two years is what we are planning, which is quite a good way of looking at it. “
Ashwin also pointed out the fact that he deserved more chances and respect from the India National Cricket Team, as he brought up the point that no other T20 World Cup-winning captains have been removed previously as India did with Suryakumar Yadav.
He [Suryakumar Yadav] have been given that big England series- R Ashwin
“But is there a possibility that they could have given Surya a bit more time? And if you feel he is not a walk-in to the 11, could he have been given that big England series to ask himself to be proving once again as a batter that he belongs in that place? I just think he deserved that after having accomplished such a huge feat in his career.”
“Can we put big stalwarts in his shoes? Has there been an instance where a captain who has won the T20 World Cup has been left out without any ultimatum? I am sure there has been communication. I have no doubts with regards to that.”
“But this is quite a landmark day in selection, if you ask me. Because this will be taken as some sort of a precedent when the next time such a thing ever comes up.”