MUMBAI, June 6, 2026 : Indian cricket witnessed a major transition on Saturday as Shreyas Iyer was appointed the new captain of the national T20I side, replacing World Cup-winning skipper Suryakumar Yadav, while teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi earned a historic maiden call-up for the upcoming tours of Ireland and England.
At just 15 years and 71 days, Sooryavanshi becomes the youngest player ever selected for an Indian cricket team, breaking the long-standing record held by cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and marking a remarkable milestone in Indian cricket history.
India’s white-ball campaign will begin with a two-match T20I series against Ireland on June 26 and 28, followed by a five-match T20I series against England from July 1 to July 11.
The appointment of Shreyas Iyer as captain signals a new chapter for India’s T20 setup. The stylish middle-order batter returns to the national T20 side for the first time since India’s match against Australia in Bengaluru on December 3, 2023.
Selectors were reportedly impressed by Iyer’s leadership record in the Indian Premier League, where he guided Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to the IPL title in 2024 and led Punjab Kings (PBKS) to the final in 2025. His consistent batting performances over the past two seasons further strengthened his claim for the leadership role.
The decision ends Suryakumar Yadav’s tenure as captain following India’s successful T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, ushering in a fresh leadership era ahead of future international assignments.
Promising middle-order batter Tilak Varma has been appointed vice-captain of the T20 side, highlighting the selectors’ emphasis on youth and long-term planning.
One of the biggest talking points of the squad announcement was the inclusion of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, whose selection comes after an extraordinary domestic and franchise season.
The teenage batting prodigy captured national attention by winning the Orange Cap in 2026, amassing 776 runs, including one century and five half-centuries, at a staggering strike rate of 237.30. His fearless batting approach and consistency made his selection almost inevitable.
Another notable inclusion is fast bowler Prince Yadav, who impressed with his performances for Lucknow Super Giants and has been rewarded with a place in the squad for the Ireland and England assignments.
India T20I Squad for Ireland & England Series
- Shreyas Iyer (Captain)
- Abhishek Sharma
- Sanju Samson
- Ishan Kishan
- Shivam Dube
- Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain)
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Axar Patel
- Washington Sundar
- Varun Chakravarthy
- Ravi Bishnoi
- Mohammed Siraj
- Harshit Rana
- Arshdeep Singh
- Prince Yadav
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
India Squad for Asian Games
- Shreyas Iyer (Captain)
- Abhishek Sharma
- Sanju Samson
- Ishan Kishan
- Shivam Dube
- Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain)
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Axar Patel
- Washington Sundar
- Varun Chakravarthy
- Ravi Bishnoi
- Harshit Rana
- Arshdeep Singh
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
India Squad for Multi-Day Matches in Sri Lanka
- Dhruv Jurel (Captain & Wicketkeeper)
- Sai Sudharsan
- Devdutt Padikkal (Vice-Captain)
- Ruturaj Gaikwad
- Harsh
- Saransh
- Gurnoor Brar
- Auqib Nabi
- Yash Thakur
- N. Jagadeesan
- Aman Mokade
- Sheikh Rashid
- Ansari
The announcement reflects India’s focus on grooming the next generation of cricketers while rewarding consistent domestic and franchise performances. With a new captain at the helm and a teenage prodigy entering the national setup, the upcoming tours of Ireland and England promise to be the beginning of an exciting new phase in Indian T20 cricket.
