Cricketer Sanju Samson is set to take over as India’s new T20I captain, replacing Suryakumar Yadav. Earlier speculation suggested that Shreyas Iyer might lead, but recent reports indicate that Samson is the top choice for the role, pushing Suryakumar aside.
The BCCI is reportedly seeking to move on from Suryakumar as captain. He has struggled with his batting recently, scoring 242 runs during the victorious campaign, with just one half-century in the first match against the USA. His performance in the 2026 IPL has also been disappointing, with only 195 runs in ten games.
Despite these struggles, Suryakumar’s record as captain remains strong. He led India to an Asia Cup victory in 2025 and has maintained a solid leadership record, including being part of the only team to defend a T20 World Cup title and winning it at home.
Earlier reports suggested that the Punjab Kings captain, Shreyas, could succeed Suryakumar due to his success in the past two years. He led Kolkata Knight Riders to an IPL title in 2024 and took PBKS to their second IPL final in 2025, scoring 604 runs in the 2025 season while batting mostly at number 4.
However, according to Dainik Jagaran, Samson is preferred over Shreyas Iyer due to his experience and presence in the current T20 team. Samson has been part of the squad since the 2024 T20 World Cup, while Shreyas last played a T20I in December 2023. Concerns over Shreyas’s limited involvement with the team may impact his chances of leading. Although Suryakumar might remain for the white-ball tours of England and Ireland in July, a continued slump in form could lead selectors to finalize changes.
In the recent T20 setup, Samson has become a key player, forming a strong opening partnership with Abhishek Sharma. Since 2024, he has scored 1025 runs in T20s, achieving three centuries and five half-centuries with a strike rate of 167.5.
Samson’s standout moment came during the 2026 T20 World Cup. After starting the tournament out of form, he made a significant comeback, playing crucial innings in the Super 8, semifinal, and final, making India the first team to win the T20 World Cup at home. He scored 321 runs in five innings with an impressive strike rate of 199.4, setting a record for the highest runs by an Indian in the tournament, surpassing Virat Kohli’s 319 runs from 2014.
Samson has also begun the 2026 IPL strongly. Playing for Chennai Super Kings, he has scored 402 runs in 10 innings with a strike rate of 167.50, including two centuries and one half-century. He moved to the Chepauk after a successful stint with the Rajasthan Royals, where he captained since 2021.