ipl 2026 update: The 2026 Indian Premier League has concluded, and preparations for the national team’s international engagements are now underway. In the final week of this month—specifically starting June 26—the Indian team is scheduled to play a T20 series against Ireland, followed by a series against England starting July 1. Shreyas Iyer will captain the Indian squad for these T20 series.
Furthermore, Tilak Varma has been appointed as vice-captain, replacing Axar Patel. All in all, Suryakumar Yadav has lost his position as captain. He is expected to be officially informed of this decision on Thursday. The BCCI Apex Council is scheduled to hold an online meeting on Thursday, during which the T20 leadership structure will be a key topic of discussion.
Has a Consensus Been Reached?
A complete consensus has already been reached regarding the removal of Suryakumar Yadav as T20 captain and the handing over of the leadership reins to Shreyas Iyer. The meeting will merely serve to officially ratify this decision. Following the meeting, the Chief Selector will discuss the matter with the other members of the selection committee. Coach Gautam Gambhir had advocated for appointing Sanju Samson as captain; however, the BCCI and Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar did not agree with this proposal.
Notably, Iyer was not even part of the squad for the recent T20 World Cup. In the previous season, he had led the Punjab Kings to a runner-up finish. This season, too, the team performed well under his captaincy during the initial stages; however, following a streak of six consecutive defeats, his team failed to qualify for the playoffs.
What is the Status Regarding Patidar?
There have been absolutely no discussions regarding the appointment of Rajat Patidar—who led Royal Challengers Bangalore to back-to-back championship titles—as captain. By appointing Tilak Varma as vice-captain, the path for Patidar’s potential future leadership has effectively been blocked. Although India recently won the T20 World Cup under Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy, his individual performance has been a cause for concern.
In the 2026 IPL season, he scored a mere 270 runs across 13 matches, maintaining an average of just 20.76. According to a senior BCCI official, the selectors have decided upon this new leadership structure after carefully considering both the players’ current form and the board’s long-term plans for the future.
Iyer Impresses with His Batting
For the uninitiated, Shreyas Iyer has truly impressed with his magnificent batting performance in the IPL. Although the Punjab Kings failed to secure a spot in the playoffs, Iyer amassed 498 runs across 14 matches. During this campaign, he maintained a strike rate of 168.81 while also registering one century and five half-centuries.
