The T20 setup of Indian cricket has entered a new phase. Shreyas Iyer The captain has been appointed for the upcoming tours of Ireland and England, while teenager Vibhu Suryavanshi has earned a historic first call-up. At the age of just 15 years and 71 days, Suryavanshi has become the youngest ever player to be selected for the Indian team, breaking a record that stood since Sachin Tendulkar’s debut in 1989. Tendulkar was 16 years and 205 days old when he made his Test debut against Pakistan in Karachi. India’s T20 campaign will begin with two matches in Ireland on June 26 and 28 before the team travels to England for a five-match series from July 1 to 11. The announcement of the squad also marks. ShreyasIndia’s return to the T20 setup for the first time since the series against Australia in December 2023. After many successful years as a leader in franchise cricket, his captaincy and consistent performances with the bat have shown. Chief Selector explaining the decision Ajit Agarkar He said: “Regarding Shreyas, we have seen what he has done in the last few years leading various franchises. “(He’s) won the final once, and from there a tough season after a great start this year. We’ve seen everything a captain can possibly (handle). His performances have been really good. “He was very close to getting a place in the (T20) World Cup squad as well. There was still no place for him with Suriya, so I think he is a candidate with a lot of experience who has now led in the T20 format; obviously it’s a different challenge.” Iyer’s leadership credentials have been bolstered by Kolkata Knight Riders winning the IPL title in 2024 and taking Punjab Kings to the final in 2025. Coupled with his strong batting in the last two seasons, these performances have convinced the selectors that he is the right man to lead India in the next T20 cycle. The decision, however, comes at a cost Surya Kumar Yadav. Despite leading India to the 2026 T20 World Cup title, Surya Kumar has not only lost the captaincy but also lost his place in the squad. Addressing the move, Agarkar said: “With regard to Suriya, obviously it’s a tough one who has just won the (T20) World Cup. But as with most World Cups, we try to figure out what’s the best way for you to move forward. “(It was) partly because of his own form but looking at the next two-year cycle, or a little over two years until the next World Cup, we thought it was the best way to go and, as I said, Shreyas is a very worthy captain. “We thought about it a lot, especially when someone has led you to win the World Cup. It’s not the easiest discussion, but I don’t necessarily think that… at some stage, we were going to see it. Now, whether the IPL form dictated it; I’m not so sure that’s the case. There was always talk around it.” With a new captain in place and the youngest player in Indian cricket history joining the team, the selectors have signaled a clear change in direction as preparations for the next T20 World Cup cycle begin.
