Shreyas Iyer Appointed T20I Captain with Tilak Varma as Deputy

In a major leadership shakeup ahead of a highly congested international calendar, top-order batsman Shreyas Iyer has been officially handed the reins of the Indian T20I team. The BCCI selection committee, led by former fast bowler Ajit Agarkar, confirmed that Iyer will captain the squad for the upcoming high-stakes tours of England and Ireland, as well as the prestigious 2026 Asian Games in Japan. In a clear nod to the future, emerging star Tilak Varma has been named as his deputy, cementing a completely revamped leadership group for the Men in Blue. This massive decision comes as part of a rigorous workload management protocol designed and enforced by head coach Gautam Gambhir. By deliberately resting senior mainstays like Suryakumar Yadav from the shortest format, the BCCI is officially marking a generational transition in India's white-ball cricket leadership. Iyer, having successfully recovered from major back surgery to reclaim his place, is now shouldering immense responsibility. He must build a dynamic, hyper-aggressive squad capable of dominating the next T20 World Cup cycle while simultaneously managing the influx of extreme youth talent, such as 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The first major test of Iyer's captaincy will commence with the incredibly challenging away series against England, where his tactical acumen will be tested against a highly aggressive opposition. Observers will be closely monitoring how he handles the bowling rotations and utilizes his deputy, Tilak Varma, in high-pressure situations. A successful stint here could solidify Iyer as the definitive long-term successor across all white-ball formats.