Shreyas Iyer Named T20I Captain as BCCI Announces Squads for England, Ireland, and Asian Games 2026

The Ajit Agarkar-led BCCI selection panel has announced Team India’s T20I squads for the upcoming assignments, which include Ireland and England tours, along with the Asian Games 2026. Team India will tour Ireland for two games, followed by the five-match T20I series against England in July and the highly anticipated 2026 Asian Games to be held in Japan this September.

The biggest talking point of the squad was the announcement of new skipper Shreyas Iyer. The BCCI has made a radical shift in leadership by naming Iyer as the new skipper of India’s T20I side, replacing the recently crowned T20 World Cup winner Suryakumar Yadav.

Shreyas Iyer to lead, Tilak Varma to be his deputy

Suryakumar’s omission from the squad was somewhat expected. The 35-year-old has been struggling to find runs for the team. For almost two years now, Surya’s run drought hasn’t ended, and eventually he was axed from the team despite leading the side to their 3rd T20 World Cup earlier this year.

Shreyas Iyer, who last played a T20I for India in 2023, hasn’t just marked his return to the squad but has also been handed the captaincy. In recent years, he has been magnificent, leading the Mumbai domestic side and IPL franchises as well.

Shreyas led Mumbai to victory in the 2018–19 Vijay Hazare Trophy and 2024–25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Along with domestic success, Shreyas Iyer holds the record as the only skipper in IPL history to have led three different franchises to the finals. He led the Delhi Capitals to their maiden and only IPL final in 2020, followed by leading KKR to the trophy in 2024, and then led the Punjab Kings to their second IPL final in 2025.

Also, the selectors have picked up young left-hand batter Tilak Varma as Shreyas’ deputy. Tilak takes the vice-captaincy reins from all-rounder Axar Patel, who was serving as a deputy to former skipper Suryakumar Yadav.

Team India’s Squad for Ireland, England Tours and Asian Games 2026

Check out the full squad announced for the upcoming Ireland and England tours in July-August, followed by the Asian Games in September 2026.

Key Takeaways

• A 16-man squad has been announced for the assignments in Ireland and England.
• The Asian Games 2026 contingent will feature 15 members.
• Shreyas Iyer is Team India’s new T20I captain. Tilak Varma to be his deputy.
• No room for all-rounder Hardik Pandya and left-hand batter Rinku Singh in either of the teams.
• Hardik has been replaced by Nitish Kumar Reddy, whereas Rinku has made way for the much-deserving Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
• Suryakumar Yadav has not only faced the captaincy axe but has also been omitted from Team India’s T20I setup.
• 15-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Delhi pacer Prince Yadav earn maiden call-up.
• Sooryavanshi will be available for all three assignments, whereas Prince will be with the team only for the Ireland and England tours.
• Pacer Harshit Rana returns to the squad after recovering from his knee injury, which kept him out of the T20 World Cup 2026 and IPL 2026.
• Ravi Bishnoi pips Kuldeep Yadav as the second-choice frontline spinner as the selectors want Kuldeep’s workload to be managed, particularly with an eye on the 2027 ODI World Cup.
• Jasprit Bumrah has been picked exclusively for the Asian Games 2026 in Japan.
• Prince Yadav and Mohammed Siraj will play only the T20I series in England and Ireland. They won’t be a part of the Asian Games.
• Despite being the best bowler of the Tata IPL 2026, Bhuvneshwar Kumar couldn’t find a place in either of the teams.

This squad announcement marks a clear line in the sand for Indian cricket. By replacing Suryakumar Yadav and moving past Hardik Pandya in the shortest format, Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar have made it known that intent, continuity, and future planning are the ultimate priorities.