Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma in fray to succeed Suryakumar

With Suryakumar Yadav set to be removed as captain of India's T20 side, three names have emerged as frontrunners to succeed him. Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer are understood to be on the selectors' shortlist ahead of their meeting in Mumbai on Saturday (June 6), when the leadership change is expected to be formally ratified. Sanju Samson, whose name has figured prominently in media speculation, is unlikely to make the final cut.

There is no unanimity yet on the preferred candidate, but the selectors are evaluating their options with the long term succession plan in mind - not just the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics but also the next T20 World Cup, to be held a few months after LA28.

It would not be surprising if one of the younger contenders - Tilak (23) or Ishan (27) - gets the nod. However, Iyer (31) remains very much in contention, particularly after the manner in which he galvanised Punjab Kings and led them to a remarkable season in 2025.

It is a different matter that Punjab Kings failed to reach the playoffs this year after a blazing start, but Iyer's leadership credentials remain beyond question. The only factor working against him is that he is not part of the current India T20I setup. He has not played a T20I in nearly 30 months, since December 2023, a period during which India have played 63 T20Is, won two T20 World Cups and enjoyed all the glory that came with those triumphs.

In the appointment of the new captain, Gautam Gambhir's role cannot be overstated. Whether the head coach opts for the more experienced Iyer - with whom he enjoyed a successful professional association at Kolkata Knight Riders if not exactly a great personal equation - or backs a younger candidate will be of considerable significance.

Staying with the younger brigade, it is increasingly emerging that Ajit Agarkar & Co are preparing to pick Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the precocious batter who took this year's IPL by storm, in the T20I squad. There has been considerable debate over whether it is appropriate to fast-track a 15-year-old into the national side so early, but it is understood that the selectors are seriously considering handing the Rajasthan Royals batter the national cap. The selectors will also take a look at Rajat Patidar as a potential replacement for Suryakumar in the batting line-up. Patidar recently led RCB to their second successive title, becoming only the third captain along with MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma to do that. He also finished IPL 2026 with 501 runs at a strike rate of 192.69.

Sooryavanshi meanwhile, finished as the IPL's leading run-scorer with 776 runs, scoring at a breathtaking strike rate of 237.30 - an unprecedented figure for an Orange Cap winner. He has already been selected for the India A tri-series in Sri Lanka, involving Sri Lanka A and Afghanistan A later this month. A promotion to the senior national team now appears firmly on the horizon.