Mumbai, June 5: Shreyas Iyer is set to be named India’s new T20 captain when the national selection committee meets on Saturday to finalize squads for the upcoming white-ball tour of the UK and the Asian Games in Japan.
The UK tour will begin with two T20 Internationals against Ireland in Belfast on June 26 and 28, followed by a limited-overs series in England featuring five T20Is and three ODIs starting July 1.
The selectors are also expected to announce an early squad for the Asian Games, scheduled to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, during September and October, in line with deadlines set by the organizers.
Young batter Tilak Varma is likely to be appointed vice-captain, while 15-year-old batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is expected to receive his first senior national team call-up.
The leadership change comes with Suryakumar Yadav reportedly losing both the captaincy and his place in the squad after a prolonged dip in form. Despite leading India to the T20 World Cup title earlier this year, concerns over his performances and a suspected wrist injury are believed to have influenced the selectors’ decision.
Iyer, 31, who was not part of India’s T20 World Cup squad, is expected to slot into the middle order at No. 4. His appointment is seen as a reward for his impressive leadership record in the IPL, where he has guided three different franchises—Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings—to the final, winning one title.
His consistent batting performances alongside his leadership credentials have strengthened his case for the role, despite Punjab Kings’ disappointing second-half collapse in the most recent IPL season.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar is expected to announce separate squads for the UK tour and the Asian Games. Although the Asian Games will overlap with a home white-ball series against the West Indies, the BCCI is likely to field a strong contingent for the continental event.
Tilak Varma could captain the Asian Games side, with Sooryavanshi expected to be part of the squad. Emerging talents such as pacer Prince Yadav and left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey are also reportedly under consideration after recent domestic and international recognition.
Another point of discussion for the selectors will be whether veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar earns a return to the national setup. The 36-year-old impressed in the IPL with 28 wickets and could be considered for English conditions, though the selection panel may weigh long-term planning ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the T20 World Cup in Australia.
The final squads are expected to provide a clearer picture of India’s roadmap in the shortest format as the team begins preparations for future global events.
