Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the teenaged Rajasthan Royals batter, has earned a maiden call-up to the Indian men's T20I squad for the tours of Ireland and England in June–July, and the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan in September. The selection, announced on 6 June, also confirmed that Shreyas Iyer has been appointed India's new T20I captain, replacing Suryakumar Yadav, who has been dropped from all three squads.

Sooryavanshi Forces His Way In

Sooryavanshi's rise has been nothing short of extraordinary. The youngster was named Player of the Final and Player of the Tournament at the 2026 U19 Men's Cricket World Cup, before following it up with a stunning 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30 in IPL 2026. He has now become the youngest player selected in an India men's squad since Sachin Tendulkar in 1989.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar left little doubt about how the decision was made. 'Vaibhav's performances — he almost forced us to pick him. I know he's young, but two IPLs in a row, and we also know what he did at the Under-19 level. He has picked himself through his own performances,' Agarkar said at the selection press conference. Before joining the senior setup, Sooryavanshi will represent India A in a tri-series in Sri Lanka from 9 to 21 June.

Shreyas Iyer Named Captain, Tilak Varma Vice-Captain

Shreyas Iyer, 31, returns to the T20I fold after his last appearance in December 2023. Though he was named in the squad against New Zealand earlier this year, he did not feature in the playing eleven. He is now expected to bat at number four — a slot previously occupied by Suryakumar.

Agarkar acknowledged the weight of the captaincy decision, particularly given Suryakumar's recent World Cup success. 'We debated it a lot — not the easiest discussion, especially if you've won the World Cup. Shreyas playing as well as he has made the decision easier,' he said. Tilak Varma has been appointed vice-captain, with Agarkar explaining: 'Tilak is a terrific player, and it gives him an opportunity to learn on the job.'

Suryakumar Yadav's Exit After World Cup Defence

Suryakumar Yadav, 35, had captained India to a successful defence of the T20 World Cup title in March. However, a prolonged lean patch in form made his continued inclusion difficult to justify. He managed only 270 runs in 13 innings for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026 at an average of 20.76, while his World Cup returns — 242 runs at a strike rate of 136.72 — were considered modest by his own standards.

With the next T20 World Cup scheduled for 2028, the selection panel decided the time was right to begin a new cycle. 'It was a tough call on Suryakumar, but you need to reassess your plan moving forward,' Agarkar said.

Other Key Selection Decisions

Seam-bowling all-rounder Harshit Rana, returning from rehab following a meniscus tear surgery in March, has been included, as has leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi. Fast bowler Prince Yadav, who impressed in IPL 2026, features in the Ireland and England squads, while Jasprit Bumrah replaces him for the Asian Games.

Shubman Gill, who was vice-captain heading into the World Cup, was not considered for the role this time. 'When we decided to have two keepers, he missed out. Axar Patel was vice-captain, but we're looking at what's best for the next two-year cycle,' Agarkar explained.

India's Tour and Squad Schedule

India will play two T20Is in Belfast on 26 and 28 June, followed by five matches in England from 1 to 11 July. The Asian Games T20 event follows in Nagoya in September. The full squads are as follows:

Ireland and England T20Is: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav.

2026 Asian Games, Japan: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

India's T20I transition is now firmly underway, with the 2028 World Cup cycle beginning in earnest against Ireland next month.