Shreyas Iyer Replaces Suryakumar Yadav as India T20I Captain, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Earns Maiden Call-Up
The BCCI has announced India's squads for the Ireland and England T20I tours and the Asian Games. Shreyas Iyer will lead the side, while 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi receives his maiden senior India call-up.
June 06, 2026: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced India's squads for the upcoming T20I tours of Ireland and England, as well as the 2026 Asian Games, marking the beginning of a new chapter in Indian cricket. In a major leadership change, Shreyas Iyer has been appointed captain of the T20I side, with Tilak Varma named vice-captain.
One of the biggest talking points from the squad announcement is the inclusion of 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The youngster earned his maiden senior India call-up after a stunning IPL 2026 campaign and a series of impressive performances for India U-19. Sooryavanshi amassed 776 runs in 16 innings during the IPL season, establishing himself as one of the brightest young talents in world cricket.
Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav has been left out of the squad despite leading India to the ICC Men's T20 World Cup title. Reports suggesting his omission were confirmed with the official announcement, with his recent struggles for form believed to have influenced the selectors' decision. Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya was also not included in the squad, raising questions about his immediate international future.
Presenting #TeamIndia's newest T20I captain ๐ฎ๐ณ
Congratulations to Shreyas Iyer as he takes the helm in the shortest format of the game ๐@ShreyasIyer15 pic.twitter.com/frfAXAOkTA
โ BCCI (@BCCI) June 6, 2026
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's Rise Continues as India Invests in the Future
Sooryavanshi's selection highlights India's commitment to building a squad for the future. The teenage prodigy impressed cricket experts and fans alike with his fearless batting, maturity beyond his years, and ability to perform under pressure during IPL 2026.
The selectors have rewarded those performances by handing him opportunities on both the Ireland and England tours. The England series, in particular, will provide a valuable test of his abilities in challenging overseas conditions.
The Asian Games squad largely mirrors the T20I squad selected for the England tour. However, there is one notable change, with Jasprit Bumrah replacing Mohammed Siraj and Prince Yadav in the final squad. Shreyas Iyer will lead the side, while Tilak Varma will serve as his deputy.
Presenting #TeamIndia's T20I squads for the tours of England & Ireland 2026 ๐ฎ๐ณ#ENGvIND | #IREvIND pic.twitter.com/f84kSSAIDf
โ BCCI (@BCCI) June 6, 2026
India T20I Squad for Ireland and England: Shreyas Iyer (C), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh and Prince Yadav.
India Asian Games Squad: Shreyas Iyer (C), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma (VC), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah.
With a new captain at the helm and exciting young talents like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi breaking into the senior setup, India's upcoming assignments in Ireland, England, and the Asian Games could provide a glimpse into the future direction of the national team.