New Delhi, June 8 (IANS) Former skipper Kapil Dev on Monday stated that “only selectors can explain the decision” behind India’s recent T20I captaincy switch, adding that the move to replace Suryakumar Yadav with Shreyas Iyer would have been thoroughly evaluated by the national selection committee before execution.

The Ajit Agarkar-led BCCI selection committee officially named Iyer as India’s T20I captain for the upcoming tours to Ireland and England, as well as the 2026 Asian Games.

The 1983 World Cup-winning skipper noted that the selectors remain the ultimate authority behind such leadership shifts. “I think the selectors must have thought about it, and that is why they made the change,” Kapil Dev told IANS when asked about his views on Iyer taking over the reins from Suryakumar.

The 1983 World Cup winner further stated that those directly running the game or analyzing it daily hold the clear insights, “Only the selectors can give a better answer, or those who are closely involved with the game, like senior players and experts on television, can comment on it,” he added.

Iyer’s elevation to the T20I captaincy is a remarkable turnaround. He was out of India’s T20I plans after December 2023, and has now forced his way back through consistent IPL performances and strong leadership credentials.

He led Kolkata Knight Riders to clinching the 2024 IPL title, and guided Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings to IPL finals in 2020 and 2025, apart from leading Mumbai to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy win in 2024/25. He is the only player in IPL history to captain three different franchises to a final.

Iyer was picked for the home T20I series against New Zealand ahead of the T20 World Cup as a replacement for injured Tilak Varma, but didn’t get a chance to play. At 31, Iyer returns to the T20I fold not only as a batter but as India’s 15th captain in the shortest format, entrusted with steering the side into the next phase of its dominating journey.

It is also the second successive instance of an Indian captain being replaced soon after lifting an ICC trophy. In 2025, Rohit Sharma led India to the Champions Trophy triumph in March, but was replaced by Shubman Gill as the ODI captain before India toured Australia in October.

–IANS

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