Cricket Kitchen

Shreyas Named India Captain, 15-Year-Old Vaibhav Earns Maiden Call-Up

June 7, 2026

Kathmandu – Shreyas Iyer has been appointed captain of India’s T20 International team.

Suryakumar Yadav has been relieved of the captaincy due to poor form. In the squad announced for the tours of Ireland and England, Tilak Varma has been named vice-captain, while 15-year-old batting prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi has received his first call-up to the national team.

Over the past few years, Iyer has impressed in the Indian Premier League. He led Kolkata Knight Riders to the 2024 title and guided Punjab Kings to the final in 2025.

Meanwhile, Vaibhav Suryavanshi created a sensation in IPL 2026, scoring 776 runs and smashing a record 72 sixes. He won the Orange Cap, Emerging Player award, and MVP award.

Suryavanshi has become the youngest player ever selected for the Indian national cricket team. At 15 years and 71 days old, he has been chosen for the T20 series against Ireland and England in July, as well as for the Asian Games in September.

Fast bowler Harshit Rana has returned to the squad after recovering from injury. Spinner Ravi Bishnoi has been preferred over Kuldeep Yadav, while Vaibhav has taken the place of Rinku Singh.

 

With Jasprit Bumrah being rested, Prince Yadav has been included in the squad. Hardik Pandya has not been selected for the T20 team as he is yet to regain full fitness.

 

India have also announced their squad for the Asian Games, scheduled to be held in Japan from September 19 to October 4, with Iyer continuing as captain. Bumrah will lead the bowling attack in that tournament, while Mohammed Siraj and Prince Yadav are not part of the Asian Games squad.

 

India will play two T20 Internationals against Ireland in Belfast on June 26 and 28, before taking on England in a five-match T20I series from July 1 to July 11.