New Delhi: Chief selector Ajit Agarkar on Saturday categorically stated that Shreyas Iyer had come close to earning a place in India’s T20 World Cup squad earlier this year.“With Surya still there, there was no room for him. So he is, in my opinion, a standout candidate with enough experience now, having led in the T20 format. This is obviously a different challenge,” Agarkar told the media after announcing the Mumbai batter as India’s new T20I captain. For some time now, Shreyas had been playing the waiting game. Having last represented India in the shortest format in December 2023, he kept knocking on the door. Across the last three IPL seasons, he has scored 1,453 runs at an average of 48.43 and a strike rate of 165.3. Only Virat Kohli (2,073 runs), Sai Sudharsan (2,008), Shubman Gill (1,808), KL Rahul (1,590), Heinrich Klaasen (1,590) and Abhishek Sharma (1,486) have scored more. It is also worth noting that, barring Klaasen, all of them open the batting for their respective franchises.Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav, who led India to T20 World Cup glory a few months ago, saw his runs dry up.Over the last three years, Surya has scored 1,332 IPL runs at an average of 39.17 and a strike rate of 163.23, with five ducks. He enjoyed an outstanding IPL 2025, amassing 717 runs at a strike rate of 167.91.However, the runs have dried up in international cricket as well. If he averaged 43.60 before becoming India’s full-time T20 captain in July 2024, that figure has since dropped to 25.88. Once a prolific batter who toyed with bowlers, his strike rate has also fallen significantly, from 168.75 to 152.03.
How Shreyas Iyer pipped Suryakumar Yadav over the last three years. (Image: NotebookLM)
In the last year, across 30 matches, Surya has scored 674 runs at an average of 30.63 and a strike rate of 148.78. The tally includes just four fifties and no hundreds.Among players who have featured in at least 25 T20Is during this period, that run tally places him 20th in world cricket. His average of 30.63 ranks him 17th.It is also worth noting that these numbers are boosted by an unbeaten 84 against the USA and 33 against Zimbabwe, two comparatively weaker opponents.
Suryakumar Yadav’s record as India’ T20I captain. (Graphic: TimesofIndia.com)
At the other end of the spectrum are an unbeaten 82, an unbeaten 57 and a 63, all against New Zealand national cricket team. Those innings bought him time and some leeway during the T20 World Cup cycle, but poor returns after the tournament and in IPL 2026 have not helped his case.“You look at the form over the last two years, but he was doing well as India’s captain. We did not deliberate a lot, but at some stage we were going to look ahead,” Agarkar said on the decision to bring in Iyer ahead of Suryakumar.Shreyas makes No. 4 spot his own
Top scorers at the No. 4 spot in the last three IPL seasons. (TimesofIndia.com)
Making the selectors’ task easier was the fact that Suryakumar had not made the No. 4 spot his own in recent times.Across IPL 2024-26, Iyer has outperformed Surya at No. 4. While Iyer scored 885 runs at an average of 49.16 and a strike rate of 161.79, Surya managed 839 runs at an average of 49.35 and a strike rate of 162.28.For the record, Riyan Parag (1,147 runs) and Rajat Patidar (1,044 runs) have better returns in that position. It is worth mentioning that despite leading Royal Challengers Bengaluru to consecutive IPL titles, Patidar is yet to cement a place in India’s T20I squad.A closer look at the recently concluded IPL season further strengthens Iyer’s case.
Top-scorers at No. 4 in IPL 2026. (Image: TimesofIndia.com)
After Klaasen (499 runs) and Patidar (448), Shreyas Iyer was the most destructive No. 4 batter in IPL 2026. He scored 439 runs at an average of 48.77 and a strike rate of 169.49. Surya, meanwhile, struggled, managing just 210 runs at an average of 26.25 and a strike rate of 145.83.While Shreyas struck 34 fours and 27 sixes for a total of 61 boundaries, Surya managed only 19 fours and nine sixes, totalling 28 boundaries.One can argue that India have won titles since Suryakumar Yadav’s elevation as T20 captain, but if the focus is on building towards 2028, the lack of runs cannot be ignored. And that is where Shreyas Iyer has edged past Mr. 360.
