Not Shubman Gill, 30-year-old in line to become India's ODI captain after Rohit Sharma's departure; in T20 World Cup 2026 fray too

Shreyas Iyer could be rewarded for his heroic captaincy and performance in the just concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Shreyas Iyer led Punjab Kings (PBKS) to IPL 2025 final. Iyer's professional journey can be distinctly divided into two phases, the period preceding and the period following his exclusion from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)'s central contract in February 2024. Prior to this juncture, Iyer had certainly offered glimpses of his exceptional talent and potential on the field. While his campaign in the ODI World Cup was undoubtedly successful, his records in both Test and T20 International cricket during that time did not reach the same heights.

However, after being removed from the central contract, a significant shift seemed to occur in Iyer's approach and performance. He appeared to have unleashed a new level of aggression and fearlessness in his batting. This transformation was evident in the IPL 2024 season, where he showcased a more dominant and attacking style of play. But as it turned out, this was merely the beginning of a remarkable resurgence for the talented batsman.

Following the IPL, Iyer continued his impressive run in the domestic circuit. In the subsequent Ranji Trophy season, he averaged an excellent 68.57, which included a notable double century. This was particularly significant as his career average in first-class cricket had not even reached the 50 mark previously. His form extended to the shorter formats as well, where he averaged 50 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with an astonishing strike rate of 188. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he displayed incredible consistency, being dismissed only once in five matches while scoring 325 runs at an impressive strike rate of 131.58.

His stellar performances across formats culminated in the Champions Trophy, where Shreyas Iyer emerged as India's standout batter, even surpassing the likes of established stars such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Shubman Gill. This consistent excellence inevitably led to his reinstatement in the BCCI's central contracts. His strong form continued into IPL 2025, where he once again proved to be one of the most effective batsmen in the tournament. This consistent upward trajectory was so compelling that many expressed their disappointment when the BCCI did not include him in India's Test squad for the tour of England.

The BCCI's selectors, however, could no longer afford to overlook his consistent brilliance. Despite not having played a T20 International match since December 2023, Iyer has now demonstrated his leadership capabilities by guiding Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to a title victory and leading Punjab Kings to their second IPL final. His individual batting performances have been equally outstanding. With the T20 World Cup 2026 on the horizon, Shreyas Iyer has presented a compelling case for his return to the Indian T20 International setup, marking a remarkable turnaround in his career trajectory.