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Appointing Shreyas Iyer as India’s T20I captain has initiated a widespread debate as he last made his appearance in the format for the national team in December, 2023. After missing out for more than a couple of years, he has been assigned as the captain of the team for the shortest format.
Suryakumar Yadav did an admirable job as the leader of the team, winning the 2026 T20I World Cup after claiming the Asia Cup in 2025. It will not be an easy job for Iyer to fill the shoes left by the former. But some obvious points make Shreyas Iyer the best fit for the role.
Proven Leadership Success in IPL and domestic cricket
As a captain, Shreyas Iyer is a proven talent. His achievements in the Indian Premier League seasons make him invaluable for the leadership role in the format for the Men in Blue. While the decorated leaders like Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni’s successes in the IPL are mostly limited to the Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, respectively, Iyer took three different teams to the finals.
Under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, Kolkata Knight Riders won the league in 2024, and Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings reached the finals on separate occasions.
During the 2024-25 season of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he led Mumbai to the title. It was the same season when Iyer clinched the IPL title as well with Kolkata, which made him the first player to win both the SMAT and IPL titles as captain in the same calendar year.
Understanding with Gautam Gambhir
There are reports that put some doubts over the relationship between the Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir and the newly appointed captain Shreyas Iyer. But there is no concrete evidence that could prove those reports.
Irrespective of the claims that are against the relationship between Gambhir and Iyer, the combination of Gambhir and Iyer helped the Kolkata Knight Riders to win their third IPL title in 2024. Without a strong understanding between them, the franchise could have to achieve the title.
Provides flexibility and batting depth in the middle order
Shreyas Iyer’s inclusion in the T20Is will provide extra depth and balance in the playing combination, as the 31-year-old has produced multiple high-class knocks even with an extra burden on his shoulders.
His batting average in the IPL 2025 and IPL 2026 seasons was 50.33 and 55.33, respectively, with the Punjab Kings. In their final group match during the 2026 campaign, Shryeas Iyer stepped up with a sparkling, unbeaten century in a must-win situation.
Shreyas Iyer is a proven match-winner for India
In the past, the right-handed batters single-handedly secured multiple wins for the national side. In Dharamsala, during a T20I match against Sri Lanka, he came to bat early in the innings and played a match-defining knock. With his unbeaten 74, India got their win comfortably over Sri Lanka.
In March, 2025, during the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy, he finished as the tournament’s highest run-scorer, which helped him to earn the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award.
Back in 2022, when India suffered back-to-back blows against the West Indies in an ODI match, Shreyas Iyer walked in and scored 63 off 71 balls to stabilize the innings. In the end, India won the match.
