Sanju Samson or Shreyas Iyer? Ravi Shastri names India's next T20I captain
India won the T20 World Cup 2026 under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav.
The debate around India‘s future T20I captaincy has intensified following recent comments from the former head coach Ravi Shastri, who backed Sanju Samson as a strong contender for the role in the coming years. The discussion has also brought Shreyas Iyer into focus, with both players now being viewed as possible long-term leadership options in India’s T20 setup.
Suryakumar Yadav is currently leading India in T20Is. He guided the side to the 2025 Asia Cup and the 2026 T20 World Cup. However, reports over the past few weeks have suggested the selectors are evaluating long-term captaincy options ahead of the next T20 World Cup in 2028.
Both Sanju and Shreyas have staked their claim for the T20I captaincy with their leadership skills in the IPL and consistent performances in white-ball cricket.
Samson recently played a major role in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 triumph, while Iyer’s captaincy record in the Indian Premier League (IPL) has also drawn attention from former players and analysts.
Ravi Shastri backs Sanju Samson for future T20I captaincy
Speaking on ICC Review, Ravi Shastri said Sanju Samson has “prepared himself for the leadership role” and gave his full support to the wicketkeeper-batsman for India’s future T20I captaincy.
Shastri highlighted Samson’s leadership experience with the Rajasthan Royals. He also pointed out that the Kerala batsman has now cemented his place in India’s T20I playing XI due to his performances at the top of the order.
Samson was one of India’s standout performers during the T20 World Cup 2026 and finished as the Player of the Tournament after scoring 321 runs. His knocks in the knockout matches against West Indies, England and New Zealand were considered among the defining performances of India’s successful campaign.
While Shastri publicly backed Samson, Shreyas Iyer has also emerged as a strong candidate for India’s future T20I leadership plans.
Recent reports suggested that the Indian selectors are keeping a close eye on Iyer as a potential successor to Suryakumar Yadav. His leadership record in the IPL is the best among active Indian captains. Reports earlier this season suggested that Iyer has the best win-loss ratio among IPL captains with at least 50 matches of experience.
Iyer has previously captained Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL and is widely regarded for his calm leadership style and tactical decision-making under pressure.
At present, there has been no official indication that India plan to replace Suryakumar Yadav as T20I captain. However, with the next T20 World Cup scheduled for 2028, discussions regarding India’s long-term leadership future are expected to continue over the coming years.
Has BCCI announced a new T20I captain?
No, the BCCI has not announced any change in India’s T20I captaincy, and Suryakumar Yadav continues to lead the side.
Who are in contention for India’s next T20I captaincy?
Sanju Samson and Shreyas Iyer are both in contention to become India’s next T20I captain.
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Anubha Anandita Pathak is a sports enthusiast with a strong passion for cricket and basketball, shaped by her experience as a district-level basketball and kabaddi player. A loyal Golden State Warriors supporter, she closely follows Stephen Curry’s style of play. With on-ground reporting experience covering the Indian Super League and Karnataka’s hockey circuit, Anubha brings both perspective and passion to her storytelling.