The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday, June 6 appointed Shreyas Iyer as Team India’s new T20I captain. He replaced Suryakumar Yadav, who led the Men in Blue to victory in the T20 World Cup at home earlier this year. Amazingly, Shreyas has been named captain despite not having played a T20I for Team India since December 2023.
The 31-year-old has a proven track record as captain in the IPL. He led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to victory in the 2024 season. Before that, Delhi Capitals (DC) reached the final for the first and only time in 2020. Also, under Shreyas, Punjab Kings (PBKS) finished runners-up in IPL 2025.
There have been a number of interesting reactions over BCCI’s decision to appoint Shreyas as Team India‘s new T20I captain. In this feature, we look at five of them.
#1 Sanjay Manjrekar
Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has made a stunning statement, claiming that Shubman Gill was better suited than Shreyas to take over as T20I captain. Describing Shreyas’ appointment as an interesting choice, he pointed out that the 31-year-old has not been part of the T20I team in recent times. Speaking on Sony Sports, Manjrekar commented:
“When you pick a player or make him the captain or vice-captain you’ve got to also make sure that that player fits into the squad and has got a confirmed place in the squad and that is where I think should been Shubman Gill has missed out because I think Gill has better credentials than Shreyas Iyer to be India’s long-term T20 captain.”
Under Gill‘s captaincy, Gujarat Titans (GT) finished runners-up in IPL 2026. The batter himself excelled, smashing 732 runs at an average of 45.75 and a strike rate of 163.02.
#2 Ravichandran Ashwin
Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has questioned the move to elevate Shreyas to T20I captaincy. Admitting that Shreyas deserved to be in the T20I team earlier as well, Ashwin was not convinced with the decision to bring him back as captain. The spin legend said (on his YouTube channel):
“Shreyas Iyer should have been in the T20 squad last time. But when you do return, do you have to return straight as the hero? On what basis did you suddenly judge his captaincy credentials? Shreyas definitely warrants a discussion for a place in the Indian T20 team. But is there any hole in the Indian T20 team? Except for spin-bowling, there are no holes. So why make this change?”
Under Shreyas, PBKS failed to reach the playoffs of IPL 2026. The right-handed batter scored 498 runs in 13 innings at an average of 55.33 and a strike rate of 168.81, with one hundred and five half-centuries.
#3 Aakash Chopra
Former India batter Aakash Chopra has backed the BCCI selectors over their decision to pick Shreyas as the new T20I captain. Chopra stated that the 31-year-old should have been a regular member of the T20I team and termed his elevation to captaincy as a deserving honor. Chopra told Star Sports:
“It’s along the expected lines. It’s not surprising. Everyone was surprised that he wasn’t able to become a part of India’s T20I squad, whether it was the Asia Cup or the World Cup. He was in the periphery, but wasn’t able to become a part of it, which is unfortunate, because only 15 are picked.
“To straightaway become the captain after that, there is no doubt about that as far as that decision is concerned. Everyone knew Suryakumar Yadav wouldn’t be the captain in 2028, and that you would be going to someone else, and you want to give him time. So Shreyas deserves what he is getting,” he added.
In 51 T20Is so far, Shreyas has scored 1,104 runs at an average of 30.66 and a strike rate of 136.12, with eight half-centuries.
#4 Ricky Ponting
It is no secret that PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting is a big admirer of Shreyas the batter and leader. Speaking to The Times of India, Ponting described Shreyas’ appointment as captain as recognition for the hard work he has put in over a long period of time. Backing the Mumbai cricketer to do a good job in his new role, the Australian legend asserted:
“He’s certainly a better captain now, a better leader, and probably a more mature and more well-rounded person now. When you think of some of the other candidates, I mean, it’s full credit to him that he’s the captain now because there are a lot of other great players in India. We know there are many great players in the current Indian team.”
Shreyas has won 55 of 101 matches as captain in the IPL. He has a win percentage of 54.45 in the T20 league.
#5 Pravin Amre
Shreyas’ coach Pravin Amre has also backed the PBKS star to do a good job as India’s T20I captain. He disagreed with an observation that leading the Men in Blue side will pose a challenge to the 31-year-old. Speaking to ETV Bharat, the former India batter said:
“He will earn the respect of his team members, and it is important for him to lead from the front. He has done 10 years of IPL as a captain. I was the first person to suggest him as the youngest captain for Delhi Capitals at that time, so I was very confident that he has the leadership qualities. He has come here (to this position) through the grind.”
Shreyas’ first assignment as India’s T20I captain will be a two-match series in Ireland. India will then face England in five T20Is.
Edited by Renin Wilben Albert