New Delhi: Shreyas IyerThe first day as India’s new T20I captain could hardly have been more dramatic.Hours later BCCI Iyer declared. Surya Kumar YadavHis successor at the helm of the national T20 team, the two Mumbai stalwarts faced off in the T20 Mumbai League. By the end of the evening, it was the newly appointed Indian captain who called the final, giving SoBo Mumbai Falcons a five-wicket victory over Surya Kumar’s Triumph Knights MNE.While Surya Kumar produced a trademark cameo of 48 runs off 24 balls with three fours and four sixes, Shreyas replied with 61 off just 36 balls, studded with five fours and four sixes, to lead his team to victory in style.Shreyas responds with a bat.Batting first, Triumph Knights MNE managed 147 for eight, with Surya Kumar once again providing the spark. The former India T20 captain looked in superb touch and looked set for a big score before falling two short of a half-century.However, Shreyas made sure that the spotlight remained firmly on him. SoBo Introduced as an impact substitute for the Mumbai Falcons, the 31-year-old played the captain’s knock, chasing it brilliantly as his team crossed the finish line with five wickets to spare.After the Chief Selector, the competition gained more importance Ajit Agarkar And the selection panel decided to hand Shreyas the captaincy for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland and England, ending Surya Kumar’s reign just months after he led India to the T20 World Cup title.Also read: SKYfall: Why India moved on from Suryakumar Yadav – The numbers behind the end of the SKY eraWarm hugs, warm words from Surya KumarDespite the dramatic change in leadership, there was no sign of bitterness between the two Mumbai teammates.Before the match, Surya Kumar and Shreyas shared a warm hug, reflecting their friendship spanning years of representing Mumbai and India together.Speaking at the toss, Surya Kumar publicly backed his successor and termed the appointment as a proud moment for Mumbai Cricket.“Very, very, very happy for Shreyas as he is leading the T20 Indian team. We played a lot of cricket together in Bombay,” he said.Earlier in the day, Surya Kumar had also taken to social media to wish the Indian team success and congratulated teenage sensation Vibhu Suryavanshi for getting his maiden India call-up.The selectors admitted it was a tough call to drop Surya Kumar from the captaincy, especially after winning the World Cup earlier this year. But with an eye on the next T20 World Cup cycle, they opted for a new leadership direction and put their faith in Shreyas’ credentials and consistency.
