Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. (ANI Image)
New Delhi: With back-to-back T20 World Cup titles in the bag, India have emerged as a powerhouse in the shortest format of cricket. The talent waiting in the wings is also enormous. In two years, the Indian cricket team will be gearing up for two big events, the Los Angeles Olympics and the 2028 T20 World Cup.When it comes to selecting a 15-member squad, there is no rocket science in selecting a team based largely on format. The biggest example of this approach is Ishan Kishan. Since his return after a two-year hiatus, South has lit up the stage.
Ahmedabad erupted as Team India arrived at the hotel after their T20 World Cup win
He was named in the Indian team after scoring a century in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final and guiding Jharkhand to the title. In 13 games since his return, the 27-year-old has amassed 532 runs at a .207 batting average.
His 317 runs in the recently concluded T20 World Cup was the third highest after Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan and teammate Sanju Samson.
reconnaissance
Do you prefer a captain who is already leading an IPL team?
But the real question is who will replace the aging Suryakumar Yadav as India’s next T20I captain. The answer could come from the 2026 Indian Premier League (
IPL
) – Just like coach Gautam Gambhir’s successful stint with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).IPL is the best T20 league in the world. Unlike the T20 World Cup, it is an equal platform and all 10 teams are equally strong.
So the selectors will have to keep their eyes open to see who can lead India because selecting a T20I team with the amount of talent available is a no-brainer, but selecting the right captain will not be easy.Who are the competitors?
Axar Patel leads Delhi Capitals in IPL.
Of the 10 Indian Premier League teams, eight have appointed Indian players as their captains. KKR are yet to announce their next captain, while Pat Cummins will lead Sunrisers Hyderabad.Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has not been in the national team’s scheme of things since he led India to the 2023 Asian Games gold medal in Hangzhou.RCB skipper Rajat Patidar is yet to make his international debut in the T20I format.Captain of Mumbai Indians
Hardik Pandya
who was expected to take over from Rohit Sharma after winning the 2024 World Cup, did not get the captaincy due to fitness issues. But by IPL 2026, he will be captained by India’s current T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav.Axar Patel, 32, has always been the bridesmaid of Indian cricket.
He was first appointed vice-captain after the 2024 T20 World Cup, then was replaced by Shubman Gill, and was again appointed as Suriya’s vice-captain before the 2026 World Cup. Axar could be a good option but for that Delhi Capitals will have to win the title.
Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant
Rayyan Parag, 24, has captained Rajasthan in Sanju Samson’s absence during IPL 2025. But the youngster will first have to cement his place in the national team. There is no doubt that his bowling ability may make him a permanent face in the Indian team in the next session.
His name was also put forward for selection when Washington Sundar was injured.28-year-old Rishabh Pant will also look to reinvent his T20I format, both with the bat and as captain of Lucknow Super Giants. The southpaw has fallen off the radar and with Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan in top form, Pant may have to wait for his chance in this format.Then there is Shubman Gill of Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings.
Shreyas Iyer
. Both have shown a pedigree of leadership. Gill is the current captain of India’s ODI and Test teams, while Iyer led KKR to the IPL title in 2024 and Punjab Kings to the final in IPL 2025.
Shreyas Iyer (IPL photo)
Shubman has been tipped as the next poster boy of Indian cricket and a successor to Suryakumar Yadav. But he was surprisingly left out of India’s squad for the T20 World Cup due to the composition of the team. Shreyas traveled with the team during the New Zealand series leading up to the T20 World Cup as cover for the injured Tilak Varma, but did not get the opportunity to play. In an ideal world, Shreyas would be the right man to lead India to the Los Angeles Olympics and the T20 World Cup.Sanju Samson is another option for selectors to consider. The 2026 T20 World Cup champion led Rajasthan Royals in the IPL and is currently basking in confidence after his player of the year performance in the tournament.The IPL has always been India’s biggest laboratory for T20 cricket. Just as Gambhir’s success in the IPL opened the door to a national coaching job, IPL 2026 could quietly shape India’s next T20I captain. In a tournament where pressure, tactics and leadership are tested every night, the selectors may find the man who will lead India into the next tournament.
