Leading India to the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title was not enough for Suryakumar Yadav to retain either the captaincy or his place in the T20I squad. Following the triumph, the BCCI selection committee appointed Shreyas Iyer as India’s new T20I captain and omitted Suryakumar from the squad for the tours of Ireland and England.
With the Mumbai batter set to turn 36 later this year and the next T20 World Cup scheduled for 2028, many believed his international career had come to an end. However, a new report suggests the selectors have not completely ruled out his return.
According to ANI, a BCCI source said Suryakumar remains eligible for selection, provided he performs consistently in domestic cricket.
“Doors for Suryakumar Yadav are still open. He is not currently in the scheme of things, but he remains eligible to come back if he scores runs consistently in domestic cricket,” a BCCI source was quoted as saying by ANI.
To force his way back into the national side, Suryakumar will have to deliver consistently for Mumbai in domestic cricket and prove that he can regain the form that once made him one of the world’s most destructive T20 batters.
The 35-year-old endured a difficult run before his omission. Last year, he failed to register a single half-century in 19 T20I innings. He showed signs of a revival during India’s series against New Zealand earlier this year, scoring three fifties in five matches, before launching the T20 World Cup campaign with a match-winning 84 not out.
However, his form dipped as the tournament progressed. Across the remaining eight matches, Suryakumar managed just 158 runs, including a duck in the final. His struggles continued in IPL 2026, where he scored 270 runs in 13 innings for Mumbai Indians at a strike rate of 147.54, prompting the selectors to leave him out of India’s next T20I assignment.
India have since endured a difficult transition under new captain Shreyas Iyer, losing six of their last seven T20Is, while one match was washed out. The team’s poor performances in Ireland and England have sparked criticism, with many questioning the decision to move on from the World Cup-winning captain so soon.
