New Captain T-20: Suryakumar Yadav’s Spot May Be Cut! Know Who Will Be the T20 Captain

IPL 2026: The 19th season of the Indian Premier League has proven to be a difficult phase for both the Mumbai Indians and Suryakumar Yadav. Suryakumar Yadav has been consistently out of form, and the repercussions of this slump may now become visible at the international level. Although the Indian cricket team won the ICC T20 World Cup under his leadership, calls to remove him from the captaincy are now gaining momentum.

Even during the ICC T20 World Cup, barring the match against the USA, he failed to produce any magical performances with the bat in any other game. If the BCCI decides to take action and relieve him of the captaincy, the big question arises: who will be the next captain of the Indian cricket team? Three names have emerged as the primary topics of discussion for the captaincy role.

Eyes Set on Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson—who was named the ‘Player of the Tournament’ in the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup thanks to his batting prowess—is being considered the strongest contender in the race to become India’s next captain. This change in leadership could potentially be witnessed as early as the upcoming series against Ireland and England.

Following his success in the T20 World Cup, Sanju Samson has continued his excellent form in the 2026 IPL as well. So far, he has amassed 402 runs in 10 matches at an average of 57.43 and a strike rate of 167.50. Furthermore, he has scored two centuries this season—a feat that makes him the only batsman globally to have achieved this distinction.

A Bet Could Also Be Placed on Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer is another candidate who could be appointed as the next captain. The current captain of the Punjab Kings remains composed even in high-pressure situations. Selectors are reportedly quite impressed by his capabilities, particularly the manner in which he has steered the Punjab Kings to the top of the table. He has scored 333 runs across 9 innings in 10 matches in the 2026 IPL so far, maintaining an average of 47.57. Shreyas has not played a T20 International match for India since December 2023.

Shubman Gill Could Also Be Appointed Captain

Shubman Gill—who currently holds the captaincy reins for the Indian cricket team in Tests and ODIs—is also being considered for the role. Gill has not been able to play T20 International matches for India for quite some time. However, Shubman Gill has been displaying exceptional batting form in the 2026 IPL.

As the captain of the Gujarat Titans, he has amassed 378 runs in 9 matches this season, averaging 42 with a strike rate of 154.92. Furthermore, he has registered three half-centuries during this period. His highest score stands at 86. Under his captaincy, the Gujarat Titans have won six out of their ten matches, securing the fifth position on the points table.