‘Feels amazing’: Dropped Suryakumar Yadav wins hearts with classy response to Shreyas Iyer’s appointment as India T20I captain originally appeared on Cricket News.
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KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Suryakumar Yadav dropped as T20I captain; Shreyas Iyer takes over after IPL success.
- Surya gracious in defeat, proud that three straight India T20 captains are Mumbaikars.
- Ajit Agarkar calls Iyer a stand-out candidate based on leadership and batting form.
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Suryakumar Yadav backs Shreyas Iyer after being dropped as India’s T20I captain
Former captain Suryakumar Yadav showed his class after he lavished praise on his successor, Shreyas Iyer, after he was dropped from the India T20I squad.
He highlighted the Mumbai connection as Rohit Sharma passed the torch to Suryakumar, who is now passing it to Iyer.
India’s next two-year T20 cycle builds towards both the 2028 Olympics and the T20 World Cup in the same year, and the selectors took the hard call of dropping Suryakumar with one eye firmly on the future.
The Mumbai Indians’ star form over the past eighteen months had been patchy, and while he guided India to the title defence at the 2026 T20 World Cup, the first time any team has successfully defended that trophy, his own performances with the bat were not convincing enough to keep the selectors from making the change.
“I am so happy for Shreyas for becoming the captain of the Indian T20I team. We have played all our cricket together here in Mumbai and it feels amazing that the last three T20 captains of India have all come from Mumbai,” Suryakumar Yadav said on Saturday at the toss of the Mumbai T20 League match between Triumph Knights MNE and SoBo Mumbai Falcons.
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Why did India replace Suryakumar Yadav with Shreyas Iyer as T20I captain?
Iyer had not featured in a T20 International since December 2023, having been dropped from the national setup amid questions about his commitment to domestic cricket.
He responded by going back to the drawing board entirely. He led Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL title in 2024, then took Punjab Kings to the final the following year.
His batting evolved noticeably, against both spin and pace, with a strike rate consistently sitting above 165 across the last two IPL seasons.
“With regards to Shreyas, seen what he’s done last few years, leading different franchises. Led a team to title, his own performances been good. Was close to being part of the World Cup squad, in my opinion was a stand-out candidate,” Agarkar said.
Agarkar made clear the selectors did not arrive at this conclusion quickly as removing a World Cup-winning captain is not a routine call.
“We debated it a lot, not the easiest discussion, especially if you’ve won the World Cup. At some stage, we would’ve discussed. Shreyas playing as well as he has made the decision easier,” he said.
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The Cricket News Opinion: Time for SKY to prove himself and make a comeback
Suryakumar deserved better than to be dropped this abruptly after winning India’s first-ever T20 World Cup title defence. That said, his form has been dismal, and the selectors are not wrong to plan as it is the right time to rebuild for the 2028 cycle.
What stands out is how Suryakumar handled it. He turned up, congratulated Shreyas, and found a reason to be proud as three Mumbai men in a row led the country in the shortest format. That kind of dignity under disappointment is rarer than a World Cup medal.
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However, a tough battle awaits Surykaumar as he now must prove himself in the domestic circuit and make a comeback. It will not be easy, as competition in the Indian T20I squad is intense, and losing a berth is a Mayday call for any batsman.
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