Mumbai: Former India wicketkeeper and ex-chief selector MSK Prasad has cautioned the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) against removing Suryakumar Yadav as captain of the men’s T20I team, stating that such a move could send the wrong message about team stability and selection priorities.

Concern over ‘first team’ signal

Prasad raised a key concern regarding the composition of the squad for upcoming series, questioning whether India intends to send its strongest playing XI or experiment with a second-string side.

“Are you sending your first team or your second level? That’s the biggest concern,” Prasad said. “If it is the first team, then overlooking Surya is not the right thing to do, especially after he led India to another T20 World Cup title.”

India successfully defended their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup crown under Suryakumar’s leadership, becoming the first team to retain the title in the format. Despite this achievement, his captaincy future has come under scrutiny due to inconsistent personal performances.

Selectors face crucial decision

The BCCI selection committee is scheduled to meet in Mumbai on Saturday to pick squads for the upcoming tours of Ireland and England. The meeting will also include discussions around leadership roles and long-term planning for the T20 format.

India are set to play two T20Is in Ireland on June 26 and 28, followed by a five-match T20I series and three ODIs in England from July 1 to 11. Additionally, the India ‘A’ squad for two red-ball matches against Sri Lanka ‘A’ will also be selected.

Suryakumar’s future as captain is expected to be one of the key talking points during the meeting.

Backing Surya despite lean patch

Prasad acknowledged that Suryakumar has been going through a difficult phase over the past year but urged selectors to show patience.

“I know he has had a rough patch in the last one to one-and-a-half years. But removing him at this stage is not the right signal,” he said. “Give him a couple of series, and if the lean phase continues, then you have a deputy ready to take over.”

Suryakumar’s form dipped after the T20 World Cup. In IPL 2026, he scored 270 runs in 13 matches at a strike rate of 147.54, managing just two half-centuries. While he had flashes of brilliance earlier in bilateral series and the World Cup opener against the USA, consistency has remained a concern.

Grooming next-generation leaders

Prasad emphasised the need for a structured transition rather than an abrupt leadership change. He suggested that the team management should start grooming younger leaders while retaining Suryakumar as captain for the time being.

“Axar Patel was your vice-captain earlier. Ideally, you should identify young leaders now and make one of them deputy to Surya,” he said.

Among potential candidates, Prasad named Shreyas Iyer and Hardik Pandya as strong options, while also highlighting emerging players like Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, and Rajat Patidar.

He particularly praised Tilak Varma, calling him a long-term prospect for Indian cricket in the T20 format. “Tilak Varma is someone who could be the answer for the next few years,” he noted.

Multiple leadership options available

India currently has a wide pool of players with leadership experience. Shreyas Iyer has led Kolkata Knight Riders to an IPL title and guided teams like Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings to finals. Hardik Pandya has captained India and led Gujarat Titans to an IPL championship.

Sanju Samson has led Rajasthan Royals to an IPL runners-up finish, while Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma have shown leadership promise in domestic and India ‘A’ setups. Rajat Patidar, who recently led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to consecutive IPL titles, has also emerged as a strong contender.

This depth provides selectors with multiple options, but also makes the decision more complex.

Call to rest senior players

Prasad also suggested that players who participated in both the T20 World Cup and IPL 2026 should be given a break for the Ireland and England tours, citing physical and mental fatigue.

“After the World Cup, many players looked exhausted in the IPL. It has been a very demanding season,” he said. “Give them a break and provide opportunities to those who performed well in the IPL.”

He added that such a move would allow selectors to test new leadership candidates in less high-pressure conditions while also assessing bench strength.

Conclusion

As the BCCI prepares to finalise squads for upcoming international assignments, the debate over Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy reflects a broader challenge of balancing immediate results with long-term planning.

While his recent form has been inconsistent, his success as a leader remains significant. Experts like MSK Prasad believe that continuity, coupled with gradual leadership grooming, may be the best approach for Indian cricket moving forward.

The selectors’ decision in the coming days will not only determine the team’s leadership but also set the tone for India’s T20 future.