‘Very happy for Shreyas’: Suryakumar Yadav reacts to Iyer becoming India’s new T20I captain

Hours after being replaced as India’s T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav publicly backed his successor Shreyas Iyer, saying he was “very, very, very happy” for his long-time Mumbai teammate and calling the appointment a proud moment for Mumbai cricket.

The two shared a warm hug ahead of a T20 Mumbai League fixture on Saturday, where Suryakumar captained Triumph Knights MNE and Shreyas featured for SoBo Mumbai Falcons as an impact substitute.

Advertisement

Speaking at the toss, Suryakumar brushed aside any speculation over the captaincy change and congratulated Shreyas on taking charge of the Indian T20I side.

“As you said, so many things are happening, but obviously very, very, very happy for Shreyas as he’s getting to lead the T20 Indian team. We played a lot of cricket together in Bombay. The most important thing, what I felt, is that three back-to-back Mumbai captains are going to lead T20s for India. I think it’s a very proud moment, and everyone needs to celebrate that,” Suryakumar said.

The remarks were Suryakumar’s first public reaction after the BCCI announced a major leadership reshuffle, naming Shreyas as India’s new T20I captain.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar acknowledged that replacing Suryakumar was a difficult decision, particularly after he led India to the T20 World Cup title earlier this year. However, the selectors opted for a new leadership direction ahead of the next World Cup cycle, citing Shreyas’ leadership qualities and consistent performances across formats.

Also Read: Shreyas Iyer named India T20I captain, Tilak Varma vice-captain; Vaibhav Sooryavanshi picked in all three

Earlier in the day, Suryakumar also extended his support to the Indian squad through social media, sharing a picture of the team on his Instagram story with the message:

“Wishing this highly skilled group all the best for challenges ahead.”

The 35-year-old also congratulated teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on his maiden India call-up, writing:

“You have earned it and how. Super excited to follow your journey.”

While his stint as India’s T20I captain has come to an end, Suryakumar’s public response reflected support for Shreyas’ new role and encouragement for the next generation of Indian cricketers.