Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Earns Maiden India Call-Up; Shreyas Iyer Named New T20I Captain

Teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been picked for India’s T20I tours of Ireland, England and the Asian Games, while Shreyas Iyer takes over as captain. Suryakumar Yadav misses out on all three squads.

Sooryavanshi earns maiden call‑up for T20I tours of Ireland, England and Asian Games (Image Source: IANS)

Teenaged batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has earned a maiden call-up to the Indian T20I team for the tours of Ireland, England and the Asian Games. With Shreyas Iyer appointed as India’s new T20I captain, he replaces Suryakumar Yadav, who has been left out of all three squads.

"Shreyas was quite close to getting into that T20 World Cup squad. It was a tough call on Suryakumar Yadav, but you need to reassess your plan moving forward. Shreyas is a well-deserving captain. He is a standout candidate with enough experience.

“I talked to most people, particularly when it comes to a captain who has won the World Cup. We had that chat. We debated it a lot, not the easiest discussion especially if you've won the WC. At some stage, we would've discussed. Shreyas playing as well as he has made the decision easier,” said chief selector Ajit Agarkar in the press conference.

India will play two T20Is in Belfast on June 26 and 28, followed by five matches in England from July 1 to 11. They will also play in the Men’s T20 event at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, in September. Suryakumar, 35, had captained India to a successful defence of the T20 World Cup title in March, but his prolonged lean patch was always a concern.

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 modest. With the next T20 World Cup scheduled for 2028, the selectors felt the time was right to move on and make Shreyas the side’s captain, while Tilak Varma is appointed as the vice-captain.

"Shubman Gill was vice-captain leading into World Cup. But 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. Tilak is a terrific player, and it gives him an opportunity to learn on the job," added Agarkar.

Shreyas, 31, returns to the T20I fold after making his last appearance coming in December 2023. Though he was part of the squad against New Zealand earlier this year, he did not feature in the playing eleven. With him coming in, he’s now expected to bat at number four, a position held previously by Suryakumar.

Sooryavanshi’s inclusion is equally eye‑catching, after being Player of the Final and Player of the Tournament in the 2026 U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup triumph. The Rajasthan Royals batter smashed 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30 in IPL 2026, and has now become the youngest player picked in an India men’s squad since Sachin Tendulkar in 1989. Before the senior T20I tours, he will feature for India A in the tri‑series in Sri Lanka from June 9 to 21.

"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. We can all see the kind of talent he has. We're hopeful if and when he gets an opportunity, he shows the same ability.

“There will be tougher challenges but he has shown great promise and temperament. We're all as hopeful as everyone is. He has picked himself through his own performances," added Agarkar.

Seam-bowling all-rounder Harshit Rana, undergoing rehab for a meniscus tear surgery done in March, is back again, so as leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi. Fast bowler Prince Yadav, who had an impactful time in IPL 2026, is included on tours of Ireland and England, while Jasprit Bumrah will come in for him in the Asian Games squad.

“There will be tougher challenges but he has shown great promise and temperament. We're all as hopeful as everyone is. He has picked himself through his own performances," added Agarkar.

India's squad for 2026 Asian Games in 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 and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Article Source: IANS