Legendary India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has shared a thoughtful perspective on the removal of Suryakumar Yadav as India’s T20I captain and his exclusion from the squad for the upcoming series against Ireland and England.
The T20 World Cup 2026-winning skipper was left out as the BCCI announced a revamped T20I setup on June 7, with Shreyas Iyer named the new captain and Tilak Varma appointed vice-captain.
Reacting to the development, Ashwin said he tried to view the situation from Suryakumar’s perspective, acknowledging that any player would feel disappointed after such a major decision.
“Look, I think it’s a very interesting precedent. I just want to put myself in Suryakumar Yadav’s shoes and think how he would be feeling at this point of time,” Ashwin told ESPNcricinfo. “I’m sure every player has the right to feel gutted about being left out, and that’s fair.”
Ashwin noted that while Suryakumar’s batting form may have dipped over the past 15–18 months, his leadership record—especially guiding India to a T20 World Cup title—should also be considered.
“I’m a little apprehensive about the whole thing. If I put myself in Surya’s shoes, I would think: yes, my batting form hasn’t been at its best, but I did manage to win a T20 World Cup for the country,” he added.
The former CSK spinner further said the decision could set a significant precedent in Indian cricket selection policies, particularly regarding successful captains being moved out of leadership and even the playing XI.
“This is quite a landmark day in selection because this will be taken as a precedent for the future,” Ashwin observed.
Despite the setback, Suryakumar Yadav responded strongly on the field, scoring a fluent 48 off 24 balls for Triumphs Knights MNE in the T20 Mumbai 2026, showing immediate signs of form and intent.
