Shreyas Iyer to Lead India in T20Is, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Earns Maiden Call-Up for UK Tour

Shreyas Iyer Named India’s T20I Captain, Teen Sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Earns Maiden Call-Up for UK Tour

India have ushered in a new chapter in T20I cricket by appointing Shreyas Iyer as captain for the upcoming white-ball tour of Ireland and England. The selectors have also rewarded 15-year-old batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi with his maiden national call-up following a record-shattering IPL season.

The squad announcement signals a major shift in India’s T20 plans, with the team beginning preparations for the next World Cup cycle and the Asian Games later this year. Iyer returns to India’s T20I setup for the first time since December 2023 and will lead a side featuring vice-captain Tilak Varma and returning pacer Harshit Rana.

Iyer Rewarded for IPL Leadership Success

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar said Iyer’s leadership credentials and consistent performances made him the standout candidate for the role.

“With regards to Shreyas, we’ve seen what he’s done over the last few years leading different franchises. He’s won a title, reached finals and handled different challenges. We’ve seen everything that a captain possibly can,” Agarkar said.

Iyer’s reputation as a leader has grown significantly over the last two IPL seasons. He guided Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL title in 2024 before leading Punjab Kings to the final in 2025.

The right-hander has also enjoyed a prolific run with the bat. He scored 498 runs in IPL 2026 at an average of 55.23 and a strike rate of 168.81, building on the form that nearly earned him a place in India’s T20 World Cup squad earlier this year.

Suryakumar Era Comes to an End

The decision effectively ends the captaincy tenure of Suryakumar Yadav, who led India during the previous T20 cycle. While selectors acknowledged his contributions, they opted to move in a new direction as the team begins planning for the future.

Sooryavanshi’s Fairytale Rise Continues

The biggest talking point from the squad announcement was the inclusion of Sooryavanshi, whose remarkable rise has captured the imagination of Indian cricket fans.

The teenage opener dominated IPL 2026, finishing as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 776 runs at a staggering strike rate of 237.31. He smashed a record 72 sixes during the season and swept multiple honours, including the Orange Cap, Emerging Player award and MVP trophy.

His performances have now earned him an opportunity at the international level, making him one of the youngest players ever selected for India’s senior men’s team.

Harshit Returns, Prince Earns Maiden Chance

India have also welcomed back Harshit Rana after a lengthy injury layoff. The fast bowler had established himself in India’s white-ball setup before a knee injury ruled him out of action for several months.

Meanwhile, young pacer Prince Yadav has received his maiden T20I call-up after impressing in domestic and franchise cricket. He has also been included in India’s ODI squad for the upcoming home series against Afghanistan.

Spinner Ravi Bishnoi has been preferred ahead of Kuldeep Yadav, while Rinku Singh misses out to accommodate Sooryavanshi’s inclusion.

Hardik and Bumrah Rested

Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya and premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah have been rested for the UK tour.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that Hardik is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and will require final fitness clearance before returning to international cricket.

The management is also carefully monitoring Bumrah’s workload, with a focus on keeping him fresh for major assignments later in the year, including the Asian Games and the international red-ball calendar.

Tour Schedule

India will begin the tour with two T20Is against Ireland in Belfast on June 26 and 28 before travelling to England for a five-match T20I series. The England leg starts in Chester-le-Street on July 1 and concludes in Southampton on July 11.

India T20I Squad for Ireland and England Tour

Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Ravi Bishnoi, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Ishan Kishan, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube, Varun Chakaravarthy, Prince Yadav and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

India Squad for Asian Games

Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Ravi Bishnoi, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah, Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Ishan Kishan, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube, Varun Chakaravarthy and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.