Who takes charge of India’s T20I squad down the line? That chat won’t fade from cricket news anytime soon. Even though Suryakumar Yadav steered the team to a World Cup win not long ago, shaky returns with the bat lately have nudged fans and critics alike to wonder what comes next before 2028 rolls around.

Lately, holding the captain’s role hasn’t seemed to help Yadav’s form with the bat, ever since he stepped into the position mid-2024. Through IPL 2026, things didn’t go smoothly for the Mumbai player; he managed only 270 runs across thirteen games, hovering around an average slightly above twenty.

Even in international T20s, his scores have trended downward while leading the team, making some wonder if leadership is weighing on his hitting. That extra duty might be playing a part in how he performs when facing deliveries.

BCCI is weighing future leadership options

Now leading India in T20Is, Yadav posts an average of 25.88, hitting six fifty-plus scores yet falling short without runs on four occasions. That mark dips clearly below earlier form, before the role, he stood tall at 43.60, shaping a rep as a top-tier hitter globally with four hundreds and twenty fifties under his belt.

One report from The Times of India says the BCCI has started looking at who might take over later, yet there's no clear choice just yet because people in charge do not agree. While talks are happening, timing remains uncertain since views differ across leadership circles.

Who steps up as India’s new T20I skipper may come down to talks between chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir. Names like Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, or even Axar Patel have floated around behind closed doors. Decisions might hinge on who fits the long-term picture best, though nothing is confirmed yet. For now, it's a waiting game shaped by quiet meetings rather than public hints.

"Ajit is a very strong chief selector, one of the strongest to have been in charge. He has taken some tough calls with an eye on the future, and he, along with his panel, has a plan in place for the T20I captaincy and the way forward. That's the reason Shreyas was appointed vice-captain in ODIs and was in the squad for the last bilateral series India played before the T20 World Cup," a source was quoted as saying.

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Still, the document hints at a possible gap - selectors and coaches might not fully agree on who should take over next. Yet clarity seems to be missing when it comes to picking the right replacement.
"Now, is he the coach's choice? Or does he have someone else in mind? And will that someone be the selectors' choice? These are the important points of discussion," the source added.

Axar Patel still stands tall, having led the team when the captain stepped aside at the T20 World Cup. At the same time, Ishan Kishan finds himself in the mix, young enough, playing steady cricket, and once guiding sides before. Then there’s Sanju Samson, who talks about him, linger even though his performances often come and go.

Even so, Sanju Samson's recent form stands out, boosted by solid showings just lately. Still, the document points to spotty results over time, which gives certain decision makers pause despite the momentum.

Long before the 2028 T20 World Cup kicks off, questions about India’s next captain still hang in the air. Instead of fading, they seem to grow sharper. Whoever steps into Suryakumar Yadav’s shoes may well be shaped by what unfolds in the months ahead.