Suryakumar Yadav’s time as Team India’s T20I captain seems to be up. After a horror IPL 2026 with the bat, SKY, who earlier became only the third Indian captain after MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma to lift a T20 World Cup, would be the topic of discussion when the BCCI selectors and the head coach Gautam Gambhir sit to pick the squad for the Ireland and England T20Is. At 35 and with an extended lean patch of runs, SKY’s exit looks imminent, with all stakeholders needing to pick his replacement and India’s new T20I captain.&nbsp;A few names popped up midway through the recently concluded IPL 2026, with the Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer leading the race. Although his team failed to reach the playoffs, Iyer’s captaincy style, batting form and history of working with Gambhir (at KKR) during their 2024 triumph campaign press his case as SKY’s replacement at number four in the T20Is. But is he an automatic choice? Perhaps not!&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/the-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-effect-india-a-odi-tri-series-to-be-broadcast-live-here-is-how-to-watch-sony-sports-network-1780492263509">The ‘Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Effect’: India-A tri-series to be broadcast live; here’s how to watch</a> &nbsp;The latest report suggests that despite BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar’s vision of picking a team for the future, as he is often known for, head coach Gambhir could have his reservations. Their disagreements over several topics, including squad selections and playing XIs, have often made headlines, which is healthy if the team benefits from it, but the two are not on the same page on this.&nbsp; &nbsp;With Agarkar wanting to pick a new captain, keeping an eye on the 2028 Summer Games and the T20 World Cup the same year, Gambhir wishes to have more options up his sleeve.<h3>So, what are the options?</h3>A source close to the information revealed several names are being discussed internally to replace SKY, including Sanju Samson, T20I vice-captain Axar Patel and even Ishan Kishan, who impressed with his leadership skills in Pat Cummins’ absence this season. &nbsp;"Ajit is a very strong chief selector, one of the strongest to have been in charge. He has taken some tough calls with an eye on the future, and he, along with his panel, has a plan in place for the T20I captaincy and the way forward. That's the reason Shreyas was appointed vice-captain in ODIs and was in the squad for the last bilateral series India played before the T20 World Cup," the source revealed in a chat with the Times of India (TOI).&nbsp; &nbsp;"Now is he the coach's choice? Or he has someone else in mind? And will that someone be the selectors' choice? These are the important points of discussion. Axar Patel was the vice-captain for the World Cup; Ishan Kishan has age, form and leadership credentials, and then there is Sanju Samson's name doing the rounds. Samson has recency bias on his side, but his inconsistency has not pleased key stakeholders," the source added. &nbsp;Meanwhile, India’s next assignment is a home series against Afghanistan, starting with a one-off Test on June 6 in New Chandigarh, with the three ODIs to follow.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Who will replace SKY? Chief selector Ajit Agarkar and coach Gautam Gambhir are reportedly divided over India's next T20I captain as the Suryakumar era nears its end.

Suryakumar Yadav’s time as Team India’s T20I captain seems to be up. After a horror IPL 2026 with the bat, SKY, who earlier became only the third Indian captain after MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma to lift a T20 World Cup, would be the topic of discussion when the BCCI selectors and the head coach Gautam Gambhir sit to pick the squad for the Ireland and England T20Is. At 35 and with an extended lean patch of runs, SKY’s exit looks imminent, with all stakeholders needing to pick his replacement and India’s new T20I captain. A few names popped up midway through the recently concluded IPL 2026, with the Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer leading the race. Although his team failed to reach the playoffs, Iyer’s captaincy style, batting form and history of working with Gambhir (at KKR) during their 2024 triumph campaign press his case as SKY’s replacement at number four in the T20Is. But is he an automatic choice? Perhaps not! Also read | The ‘Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Effect’: India-A tri-series to be broadcast live; here’s how to watch The latest report suggests that despite BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar’s vision of picking a team for the future, as he is often known for, head coach Gambhir could have his reservations. Their disagreements over several topics, including squad selections and playing XIs, have often made headlines, which is healthy if the team benefits from it, but the two are not on the same page on this. With Agarkar wanting to pick a new captain, keeping an eye on the 2028 Summer Games and the T20 World Cup the same year, Gambhir wishes to have more options up his sleeve. So, what are the options? A source close to the information revealed several names are being discussed internally to replace SKY, including Sanju Samson, T20I vice-captain Axar Patel and even Ishan Kishan, who impressed with his leadership skills in Pat Cummins’ absence this season. "Ajit is a very strong chief selector, one of the strongest to have been in charge. He has taken some tough calls with an eye on the future, and he, along with his panel, has a plan in place for the T20I captaincy and the way forward. That's the reason Shreyas was appointed vice-captain in ODIs and was in the squad for the last bilateral series India played before the T20 World Cup," the source revealed in a chat with the Times of India (TOI). "Now is he the coach's choice? Or he has someone else in mind? And will that someone be the selectors' choice? These are the important points of discussion. Axar Patel was the vice-captain for the World Cup; Ishan Kishan has age, form and leadership credentials, and then there is Sanju Samson's name doing the rounds. Samson has recency bias on his side, but his inconsistency has not pleased key stakeholders," the source added. Meanwhile, India’s next assignment is a home series against Afghanistan, starting with a one-off Test on June 6 in New Chandigarh, with the three ODIs to follow.

Who will replace SKY? Chief selector Ajit Agarkar and coach Gautam Gambhir are reportedly divided over India's next T20I captain as the Suryakumar era nears its end.

Agarkar, Gambhir divided over India’s ‘next T20I captain’ as SKY’s exit ‘most likely’ – Report

The BCCI selectors have put Team India’s T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav on notice despite helping the Men in Blue clinch their record third T20 crown in March this year. Part of two T20 WC-winning teams, captaining one, SKY is a veteran performer in this format, having previously claimed the number one position in T20Is. Currently part of the star-studded Mumbai Indians (MI) squad, SKY is certain to lead the Indian Team on the UK tour, including five T20Is against England and two versus Ireland; however, his selection beyond that point would be performance-based.&nbsp;Per a PTI report, the selectors are aware of Suryakumar’s bleak run with the bat, raising questions over his form heading into the 2028 LA Olympics and the T20 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. While SKY scored 242 runs in nine outings during the triumphant T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, including a match-winning 84 against the USA in India’s tournament opener, he has just managed 106 in four innings for his IPL franchise thus far. &nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/vaibhav-sooryavanshi-set-to-become-youngest-indian-debutant-india-tour-of-ireland-2026-t20i-series-sachin-tendulkar-shafali-verma-1776166099372">Vaibhav Sooryavanshi set to become youngest Indian debutant on Ireland tour – Report</a>&nbsp;“Obviously, Surya is now leading the team. But he also has to ensure that, as a batter, he maintains a level of consistency in his performances. Obviously, he will lead in the UK, but after that, discussions going forward till 2028 could be purely performance-based," a BCCI source close to the information revealed in a chat. &nbsp;A run-scoring machine in the shortest format, Suryakumar played 21 T20Is last year but failed to score a fifty in any of those; he, however, improved his numbers in 2026 during the home five-match T20I series against New Zealand, where he completed three half-centuries in five matches. He carried his form to the T20 World Cup, where he scored his only fifty-plus score against the associate nation (the USA) before failing to deliver big on grander occasions. &nbsp;Meanwhile, SKY would next feature for MI against the touring PBKS side, who are unbeaten thus far this season, at home during Thursday’s (Apr 16) fixture.

Is Suryakumar Yadav's T20I captaincy at risk? Despite a T20 World Cup win, the BCCI has reportedly put SKY on notice ahead of the UK tour. Read the latest on his "performance-based" future and his upcoming clash against PBKS on April 16.

The BCCI selectors have put Team India’s T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav on notice despite helping the Men in Blue clinch their record third T20 crown in March this year. Part of two T20 WC-winning teams, captaining one, SKY is a veteran performer in this format, having previously claimed the number one position in T20Is. Currently part of the star-studded Mumbai Indians (MI) squad, SKY is certain to lead the Indian Team on the UK tour, including five T20Is against England and two versus Ireland; however, his selection beyond that point would be performance-based. Per a PTI report, the selectors are aware of Suryakumar’s bleak run with the bat, raising questions over his form heading into the 2028 LA Olympics and the T20 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. While SKY scored 242 runs in nine outings during the triumphant T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, including a match-winning 84 against the USA in India’s tournament opener, he has just managed 106 in four innings for his IPL franchise thus far. Also read | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi set to become youngest Indian debutant on Ireland tour – Report “Obviously, Surya is now leading the team. But he also has to ensure that, as a batter, he maintains a level of consistency in his performances. Obviously, he will lead in the UK, but after that, discussions going forward till 2028 could be purely performance-based," a BCCI source close to the information revealed in a chat. A run-scoring machine in the shortest format, Suryakumar played 21 T20Is last year but failed to score a fifty in any of those; he, however, improved his numbers in 2026 during the home five-match T20I series against New Zealand, where he completed three half-centuries in five matches. He carried his form to the T20 World Cup, where he scored his only fifty-plus score against the associate nation (the USA) before failing to deliver big on grander occasions. Meanwhile, SKY would next feature for MI against the touring PBKS side, who are unbeaten thus far this season, at home during Thursday’s (Apr 16) fixture.

Is Suryakumar Yadav's T20I captaincy at risk? Despite a T20 World Cup win, the BCCI has reportedly put SKY on notice ahead of the UK tour. Read the latest on his "performance-based" future and his upcoming clash against PBKS on April 16.

Make or Break: Why UK tour could decide Suryakumar Yadav’s T20I future

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Agarkar, Gambhir divided over India’s ‘next T20I captain’ as SKY’s exit ‘most likely’ – Report

Make or Break: Why UK tour could decide Suryakumar Yadav’s T20I future