Iyer eyed as SKY replacement signals form-first T20I captaincy

Shreyas Iyer scans the PBKS huddle after another loss. Selectors eye him for India's T20I captaincy. Suryakumar Yadav's lean patch—183 runs in nine IPL innings at 20.33 average—prompts the shift. Wrist trouble lingers. Packed schedule to 2028 World Cup demands reliability.

India reverses leader-protection trend. Past captains batted poorly yet retained armband—Ganguly through 2003 slump, Dhoni post-2012 dips. Form now dictates, as with Rohit Sharma's 2024 exit. Iyer's IPL success across KKR and PBKS weighs heavy—led title win, rebuilds Punjab. SKY's MVP last year fades against current returns. Wrist scans confirm no quick fix.

Captaincy returns to batting merit. Iyer slots back into T20I setup. Schedule crams bilateral tours, Olympics prep. Selectors prioritise runs over reputation—data shows captains average 15% higher in wins. SKY steps aside quietly. Iyer waits in Mullanpur dugout. Leadership changes mid-IPL echo past transitions. Form rules again.