India T20I Squad Announcement Live Updates: Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi get the big call-up as Shreyas Iyer is tipped to replace Suryakumar Yadav as captain?

India Squad for England Series: Former India chief selector MSK Prasad on potential removal of SKY from captaincy duties

“See, are you sending your first team or are you sending your second level? That's the biggest concern. So, if they are sending the first team, I think overlooking Surya is not the right thing to do because he just handed over one more Men’s T20 World Cup to us," MSK Prasad told news agency IANS.

“So, ideally, probably next 5‑6 months or now you have to get ready with your next leaders, right? Axar Patel was your vice‑captain till the T20 World Cup win. Ideally, if you look at it, you have to look forward to the younger leaders. So, if you can identify such leaders and make a deputy to Surya, it will be nice to see. Surya is a phenomenal player.

"I know that he has gone through a rough patch in the last 1‑1.5 years. Of course, we have other players like Rajat Patidar coming up, and they also deserve their places.

"So, what I would like to say is that, removing Surya at this stage, I think, is not the right signal. Give him a couple of series, and if his lean patch continues, then you have a deputy to whom you can hand over the captaincy baton."

India T20 Squad Announcement: Will Bhuvneshwar Kumar be considered?

India’s selectors appear ready to move beyond Mohammed Shami, but a potential return for Bhuvneshwar Kumar remains a talking point. The veteran fast bowler impressed in the IPL with 28 wickets, showing excellent form despite being 36 years old.

His performances on batting-friendly pitches have highlighted his skill and consistency, and many believe his swing bowling could be particularly effective in English conditions.

However, selection decisions under chief selector Ajit Agarkar have generally been guided by long-term planning rather than short-term results.

As a result, the selection committee is likely to consider not only Bhuvneshwar’s current form but also his future availability.

A key question will be whether he can remain competitive and fit enough to contribute to India’s plans for major tournaments in 2028, including cricket’s return at the 2028 Summer Olympics and the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, when he would be close to 39 years old.

Team India Squad Announcement: Plenty of captaincy options available

Prasad sees no shortage of leadership candidates.

Apart from Hardik Pandya and Shreyas Iyer, he named Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson and Rajat Patidar as options.

He described Tilak as "the answer for the next few years for Indian cricket in T20 formats" and praised Patidar's recent achievements, saying he should certainly be looked at.

India Squad for England Series: Groom future leaders under Surya

Prasad suggested retaining Suryakumar while identifying younger leaders as deputies.

"Give him a couple of series, and if his lean patch continues, then you have a deputy to whom you can hand over the captaincy baton," he said.

He advocated preparing future captains now rather than making abrupt changes.

India Squad for Ireland Series: MSK Prasad urges patience with Surya

Former chief selector MSK Prasad, however, has taken a contrasting view. He believes removing Suryakumar from captaincy immediately would send the wrong signal, especially after the batter led India to another T20 World Cup title.

"Overlooking Surya is not the right thing to do because he just handed over one more Men's T20 World Cup to us," Prasad told IANS.

India T20 Squad Announcement: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gets strong backing

Karim also made a strong case for teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

The 15-year-old is set to feature in the India A tri-series in Sri Lanka, and Karim believes impressive performances there could fast-track his international debut.

"I strongly feel that such a talent needs to be picked as soon as possible because he has done enough to warrant a place in the squad," he said.

India T20I Squad: Hardik not among Karim's favourites

Interestingly, Karim doesn't think Hardik Pandya would be high on the selectors' list. He pointed to criticism surrounding Hardik's leadership during Mumbai Indians' campaign and questioned whether his current form justified a captaincy role.

"I don't think he would justify his position as the captain of the Indian side," Karim remarked.

Team India Squad Announcement: Iyer, Samson and Kishan also in contention

While Patidar has strengthened his case, Karim believes Shreyas Iyer remains among the frontrunners.

"I think Shreyas Iyer would be one of those candidates. I have Sanju Samson, and in fact, Ishan Kishan too," he said.

According to Karim, there are at least two or three strong contenders ready to take over India's T20 leadership.

India Squad for England Series: Leading star-studded sides isn't easy

Karim highlighted the challenge of leading experienced overseas players and established stars.

"He has had to lead a team of individuals and foreign players who have been star players for their national sides. To lead such a team with so many legends is very difficult and he has accomplished that," he said, adding that Patidar deserved to be considered seriously.

India Squad for Ireland Series: Patidar enters captaincy conversation

Karim strongly backed Rajat Patidar as a potential captaincy candidate after the batter guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru to back-to-back IPL titles.

The former selector praised Patidar's calm demeanour and his ability to manage a dressing room full of international stars.

"Winning back-to-back IPL titles is a very tough assignment and he has done that in a very calm and assured manner," he said.

India T20 Squad Announcement: Looking ahead to 2028

"We have seen that in the past; the selection committee moved from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli and they picked a new side," Karim said.

"One can see that happening even now for the T20 World Cup that will take place in 2028."

According to him, Suryakumar's indifferent World Cup form followed by a poor IPL campaign should prompt selectors to look ahead.

India T20I Squad: Form concerns continue for SKY

Suryakumar's struggles have extended from international cricket to the IPL.

Despite a few half-centuries against New Zealand and a match-winning effort against the USA in the T20 World Cup opener, consistency has deserted him.

He managed only 270 runs in 13 IPL matches at a strike rate of 147.54.

Karim pointed out that the selectors had earlier moved on from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the format and could do something similar again.

Team India Squad Announcement: Ex-selector questions Suryakumar's place

Former India cricketer and selector Saba Karim believes Suryakumar Yadav's prolonged dip in form could cost him his place in India's long-term T20 plans.

With the next T20 World Cup scheduled for 2028, Karim feels the selection committee will be focused on building a fresh core rather than looking back.

"On current form, Suryakumar may not be a part of the selection committee's vision to take this team forward," Karim told PTI.

Teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's meteoric rise should now be rewarded with an India T20I cap, according to former India cricketer and national selector Devang Gandhi, who believes the 15-year-old has already shown qualities that could one day make him a nightmare for Test bowlers as well.

Fresh from a stunning IPL 2026 campaign with Rajasthan Royals, Sooryavanshi is poised to become the youngest player in an India men's squad since Sachin Tendulkar's debut in 1989. The left-handed opener amassed 776 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 237.30 after earlier being named Player of the Tournament in India's triumphant U19 World Cup campaign.

India Squad for Ireland Series: Strong bowling pool with one surprise inclusion

The longlist features several frontline bowlers, including Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna and Arshdeep Singh, although Bumrah could prioritise the ODI assignments keeping the 2027 World Cup in mind.

Among the spinners, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Harsh Dubey have all made the cut, though only two are expected to feature in the Asian Games squad, with the others likely to be part of the West Indies series.

One surprising inclusion is Ruturaj Gaikwad, who led India to the gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games despite enduring a lean run in recent months.

Longlist to IOA: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Prasidh Krishna, Varun Chakravarthy, Anukul Roy, Ayush Badoni, , Harsh Dubey, Dhruv Jurel, Khaleel Ahmed, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravi Bishnoi, Shahbaz Ahmed, Shivam Dube, Vipraj Nigam Nigam, Harshit Rana, Yash Thakur, Washington Sundar.

India T20 Squad Announcement: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi included, captaincy options emerge

Teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been rewarded for his impressive rise with a place in the longlist, while Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma are expected to be the leading contenders for captaincy duties at the Asian Games.

Gill's absence is understandable as he is likely to lead India in the ODI leg of the West Indies series.

It is also understood that Suryakumar is no longer part of India's long-term plans for the 2028 Olympics and the next T20 World Cup, making his omission from the Asian Games list a predictable development.

India T20I Squad: Big names miss out from Asiad list as selectors prepare for split squads

India's current T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav and Test and ODI skipper Shubman Gill are among the notable absentees from the 30-member list of men's probables submitted by the BCCI to the Indian Olympic Association for the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.

The board had already decided to prepare two separate squads as the Asian Games, scheduled from September 19 to October 4, overlap with India's home white-ball series against the West Indies.

With the Caribbean side set to play three ODIs and five T20Is between September 27 and October 17, the selectors have opted to create a larger player pool to manage the workload and scheduling challenges.

Team India Squad Announcement: Bhuvneshwar Kumar's recall under discussion

The selectors will also discuss whether veteran seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar deserves a comeback after claiming 28 wickets in IPL 2026.

While the 36-year-old's experience and ability in English conditions make him an attractive option, the Ajit Agarkar-led panel is expected to weigh his long-term prospects with an eye on the 2028 Olympics and T20 World Cup.

India Squad for England Series: Youngsters in line for opportunities

Tilak Varma is expected to be named vice-captain for the UK tour and could even lead India at the Asian Games in September-October.

Fifteen-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is likely to receive his maiden senior call-up, while pacer Prince Yadav and left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey are also in contention for places in the Asian Games squad.

India Squad for Ireland Series: Reward for consistent leadership

The 31-year-old Iyer is expected to be rewarded for his impressive captaincy record in the IPL, having guided three different franchises — Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings — to finals, winning one title.

Iyer is also likely to slot into the No. 4 position.

Suryakumar, despite leading India to the T20 World Cup title earlier this year, is set to lose both the captaincy and his place in the squad after a prolonged dip in form and concerns over a wrist injury.

India T20 Squad Announcement: Leadership change on the cards

Shreyas Iyer is set to formally replace Suryakumar Yadav as India's T20 captain when the national selectors meet in Mumbai on Saturday to pick squads for the white-ball tour of the UK and the Asian Games in Japan.

India will play two T20Is against Ireland in Belfast before taking on England in a five-match T20I series and three ODIs.

India T20I Squad: Selectors set to make major changes

Hello and welcome to the live updates of India's T20I squad announcement for the upcoming series against Ireland and England. Several changes are expected in the set-up as the selectors begin building a pool of players for the 2028 T20 World Cup.