Kapil Dev on Shreyas Iyer's T20I captaincy: 'Only selectors can explain'
Synopsis
Kapil Dev won't second-guess the selectors — but India's T20I captaincy churn tells its own story. Shreyas Iyer, written off after December 2023, is now the 15th man to lead India in the format, making him the only IPL captain to take three different franchises to a final. It is also the second straight time India has replaced a captain within months of an ICC trophy win.
Key Takeaways
Kapil Dev said 'only selectors can explain the decision' behind the T20I captaincy switch from Suryakumar Yadav to Shreyas Iyer .
The Ajit Agarkar -led BCCI selection committee named Iyer captain for tours to Ireland , England , and the 2026 Asian Games .
Iyer , 31 , had been out of India's T20I plans since December 2023 before his recall.
He is the only player in IPL history to captain three different franchises to a final — Delhi Capitals (2020) , KKR (2024 title) , and Punjab Kings (2025) .
This is the second successive post-ICC-trophy captaincy change; Rohit Sharma was replaced as ODI captain by Shubman Gill after the 2025 Champions Trophy .
Cricket legend and 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev on Monday said that 'only selectors can explain the decision' behind India's latest T20I captaincy switch, backing the Ajit Agarkar-led BCCI selection committee's move to appoint Shreyas Iyer in place of Suryakumar Yadav. The change was officially confirmed ahead of India's upcoming T20I tours to Ireland and England, as well as the 2026 Asian Games.
Kapil Dev's Measured Response
'I think the selectors must have thought about it, and that is why they made the change,' Kapil Dev said when asked about his views on Iyer's elevation. He added that those most closely involved with the game — senior players, analysts, and television experts — are better placed to offer a substantive verdict. 'Only the selectors can give a better answer, or those who are closely involved with the game, like senior players and experts on television, can comment on it,' he said.
The former skipper's remarks reflect a broad deference to the selection committee's authority, stopping short of either endorsing or questioning the specific rationale for the switch.
Shreyas Iyer's Remarkable Comeback
Shreyas Iyer, 31, had been out of India's T20I plans since December 2023 before forcing his way back through a string of standout IPL performances and consistent leadership credentials. He led Kolkata Knight Riders to the 2024 IPL title, guided Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings to IPL finals in 2020 and 2025 respectively, and captained Mumbai to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title in the 2024/25 season.
Notably, Iyer is the only player in IPL history to have captained three different franchises to a final — a record that underscored his leadership credentials when selectors deliberated. He returns to the T20I fold not just as a batter but as India's 15th T20I captain, entrusted with steering the side into a new phase.
A Pattern of Post-Trophy Captaincy Transitions
This is the second successive instance of an Indian captain being replaced shortly after lifting an ICC trophy. Rohit Sharma led India to the Champions Trophy triumph in March 2025 but was subsequently replaced by Shubman Gill as ODI captain ahead of India's tour of Australia in October 2025. Suryakumar's exit from the T20I captaincy follows a similar trajectory, raising questions about the BCCI's approach to leadership transitions in the post-trophy window.
What Comes Next
Iyer will now be assessed in competitive conditions on the Ireland and England tours before the 2026 Asian Games assignment. His ability to translate IPL captaincy success to the international stage will be closely watched, as India looks to consolidate its position at the top of the ICC T20I rankings. The selectors are yet to publicly detail the specific criteria that drove the change.
Point of View
It reflects how opaque the BCCI's captaincy decision-making remains. The Iyer appointment is defensible on IPL leadership data, but the pattern of replacing captains within months of ICC trophy wins — Rohit after the Champions Trophy, Suryakumar now — suggests the selection committee is operating on a compressed, performance-independent timeline that it has not publicly explained. India's T20I captaincy has had 15 holders; the frequency of change risks undermining the continuity that modern franchise cricket, paradoxically, has shown matters most.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Suryakumar Yadav replaced as India's T20I captain?
The BCCI selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, appointed Shreyas Iyer in place of Suryakumar Yadav as India's T20I captain for the tours to Ireland, England, and the 2026 Asian Games. The selectors have not publicly detailed the specific reasons for the change.
What did Kapil Dev say about the T20I captaincy switch?
Kapil Dev said the selectors 'must have thought about it' before making the change and that 'only the selectors can give a better answer.' He deferred to the selection committee's authority without endorsing or criticising the decision.
What is Shreyas Iyer's IPL captaincy record?
Shreyas Iyer led Kolkata Knight Riders to the 2024 IPL title and guided Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings to finals in 2020 and 2025 respectively. He also captained Mumbai to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2024/25 and is the only IPL player to lead three different franchises to a final.
Is this the first time India changed captains soon after an ICC trophy win?
No — this is the second successive instance. Rohit Sharma led India to the Champions Trophy in March 2025 but was replaced by Shubman Gill as ODI captain before the Australia tour in October 2025. Suryakumar Yadav's exit follows a similar post-trophy pattern.
Who is India's T20I captain for the 2026 Asian Games?
Shreyas Iyer has been named India's T20I captain for the upcoming tours to Ireland and England, as well as the 2026 Asian Games, making him India's 15th T20I captain.
