Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill and Tilak Varma are among the players reportedly being considered for India’s T20 captaincy if the BCCI decides to remove current skipper Suryakumar Yadav from the role.

Suryakumar has struggled with form over the past two years. While he has played a few impressive innings, his overall numbers in international cricket and the IPL have remained below expectations. His average has stayed in the low 20s, leading to serious discussions within Indian cricket about his future as captain despite leading India to a T20 World Cup title.

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Why Iyer's chances are less to become T20I captain?

According to a PTI report, Shreyas Iyer has emerged as a strong contender for the job. However, the final decision could depend heavily on head coach Gautam Gambhir.

The report claimed that Gambhir’s opinion will carry major weight in the captaincy call, and there are still questions over his relationship with Iyer.

The tension reportedly goes back to IPL 2024, when Iyer captained Kolkata Knight Riders to the title. It is believed that Iyer was unhappy because Gambhir, who was the team mentor, received much of the credit for the championship win.

Why selectors looking for Shubman Gill and Tilak Varma?

Because of that uncertainty, selectors are also looking closely at other options, including Shubman Gill and Tilak Varma.

Gill’s reputation as a leader has reportedly grown after guiding Gujarat Titans to a top-two finish in IPL 2026. The report added that chief selector Ajit Agarkar had earlier viewed Gill as a future all-format captain before his poor run in T20 cricket ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup changed the plans.

Even now, Gill remains firmly in the race. If Suryakumar loses the captaincy, Gill could return as an opener, with Sanju Samson likely moving to number three and Ishan Kishan shifting to number four.

Tilak Varma is also being seriously discussed despite an inconsistent IPL season with Mumbai Indians.

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"Don’t rule out Tilak if Surya is sacked. There’s a reason that Tilak has been made captain for tri-nation A series where selectors would get to see his leadership skills," the report quoted a source as saying.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in BCCI's List for Paris Olympics

The report also mentioned 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as a possible factor in the long-term plans of the Indian team.

The BCCI is reportedly keen on preparing a clear path for the young talent ahead of the 2028 Olympics. Because of that, future captaincy decisions may also be taken keeping in mind how he could fit into India’s playing XI in the coming years.