Since batting mainstay Rohit Sharma has already announced his retirement from T20Is and Test matches, there is more conjecture that Shreyas Iyer may be the most likely candidate to take his place in the 50-over format. Devajit Saikia, the secretary of the BCCI, has denied these accusations, claiming they are merely hearsay.
Many people believe that Shreyas Iyer is a calm and shrewd cricket player who has the mentality to lead India after leading two separate IPL teams to consecutive finals. His arguments have been strengthened by his batting exploits, which included a successful run in the 2025 Champions Trophy, where he was India’s top run scorer.
Young opener Shubman Gill has also been viewed as a future leader alongside Shreyas Iyer.
Given that Rohit is 38 years old and approaching the end of his international career, there is now more discussion about succession. Devajit Saikia, the secretary of the BCCI, has spoke out against the rumours. I’ve never heard of that before. Such conversations haven’t taken place,” Saikia told Hindustan Times.
Curiously, Iyer was left out of India’s 15-man roster for the 2025 Asia Cup, despite his name being linked to the position of ODI captain. Despite having a fantastic IPL season in which he amassed over 600 runs and guided Punjab Kings to the championship game, his absence has drawn harsh criticism from both fans and experts.
What else is left for Shreyas to do? Santosh Iyer
The selection committee, chaired by Ajit Agarkar, came under fire for excluding Shreyas Iyer—even from the reserves list—when they unveiled the team alongside T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav. Santosh Iyer, the cricket player’s father, also expressed disappointment that his son was not chosen for the major event.
“What more needs to be done by Shreyas to qualify for the Indian T20 team is unknown to me. He has consistently performed admirably in the IPL, playing as captain for the Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Punjab Kings. Santosh stated the Times of India, “He even led PBKS to the final this year and captained KKR to the IPL title in 2024.”
Additionally, the BCCI has indicated that the senior selection panel will be changing in the near future. Agarkar remains chairman until the 2026 T20 World Cup, and the board has asked for new applications to replace two players on the existing five-man squad.
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