A major change could soon take place in India’s T20I setup, with Sanju Samson reportedly emerging as the top contender for the captaincy role. According to reports, the BCCI selection committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar, has been extremely impressed with Sanju Samson’s performances, composure and leadership qualities in the shortest format.
The wicketkeeper-batter played a key role in India’s victorious ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign. Interestingly, Sanju Samson was not part of the playing XI during the initial matches, as the team management led by Gautam Gambhir preferred Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan at the top of the order.
However, once he returned to the side, Sanju Samson grabbed the opportunity in style. He smashed an unbeaten 97 against West Indies in a must-win encounter and later followed it up with important knocks of 89 against both England and New Zealand during the knockout stages. His outstanding performances earned him the prestigious Player of the Tournament award.
Reports suggest that Sanju Samson may be handed the captaincy for India’s upcoming T20I series against Ireland and England once the IPL 2026 comes to an end.
For now, Suryakumar Yadav remains India’s T20I skipper but his recent form has come under serious scrutiny. The batter has managed only 195 runs in 10 IPL 2026 matches at an average of 19.52. Apart from a notable innings against the USA in the T20 World Cup, he has struggled to deliver consistently, increasing discussions around a possible leadership transition.
Shreyas Iyer was also reportedly in contention for the captaincy role. However, his absence from India’s T20I side since December 2023 is believed to have affected his chances. Reports claim the selectors want him to first cement his place back in the squad before considering him for leadership responsibilities.
Sanju Samson’s brilliant IPL 2026 form for Chennai Super Kings, where he has already crossed 400 runs with multiple centuries, along with his earlier captaincy experience with Rajasthan Royals, has further strengthened his position as a leading candidate to become India’s next T20I captain.
