Former India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav has warmly welcomed Shreyas Iyer's appointment as the new skipper of the men's T20I side, saying he was 'very, very, very happy' for his long-time Mumbai teammate and calling it a proud moment for Mumbai cricket. The reaction came on 6 June, hours after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced sweeping changes to India's T20I leadership.

The Mumbai Reunion on the Field

The two players came face-to-face during a T20 Mumbai League fixture on Saturday, shortly after the captaincy change was confirmed. Suryakumar led Triumph Knights MNE, while Shreyas featured for the SoBo Mumbai Falcons as an Impact Substitute. The former and current India T20I captains shared a warm hug before the match began — a visible sign of the camaraderie built over years of playing together for both Mumbai and India.

What Suryakumar Said at the Toss

Speaking at the toss, Suryakumar set aside any personal disappointment and offered a generous public endorsement of his successor. 'As you said, so many things are happening, but obviously very, very, very happy for Shreyas as he's getting to lead the T20 Indian team. We played a lot of cricket together in Bombay. The most important thing, what I felt, is that three back-to-back Mumbai captains are going to lead T20s for India. I think it's a very proud moment, and everyone needs to celebrate that,' he said. The remarks marked his first public response to the BCCI's announcement.

The Selectors' Reasoning

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar acknowledged that removing Suryakumar from the captaincy was a difficult call, particularly given that he had guided India to the T20 World Cup title earlier this year. However, the selection panel opted for a fresh leadership direction with the next World Cup cycle in mind, citing Shreyas' strong leadership credentials and consistent performances across formats.

Suryakumar's Support for the Next Generation

Earlier on the same day, Suryakumar took to social media to back the newly-announced squad, posting a picture on his Instagram story with the message: 'Wishing this highly skilled group all the best for challenges ahead.' He also congratulated teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on receiving his maiden India call-up, writing: 'You have earned it and how. Super excited to follow your journey.'

What This Means for Indian T20 Cricket

Notably, Suryakumar's exit from the captaincy role continues a pattern of Mumbai cricketers leading India's shortest format — with three consecutive Mumbai captains now set to hold the T20I role. At 35, Suryakumar's future as a player in the T20I setup remains to be clarified by the selectors, but his public conduct throughout the day reflected full support for the transition. The BCCI is widely expected to outline the roadmap for the next T20 World Cup cycle in the coming weeks.