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"This is a player who will win me the World Cup" - Suryakumar Yadav rationalises backing out-of-form batter in 2026 edition
Veteran India batter Suryakumar Yadav was unceremoniously dropped from the T20I side just over two months after leading India to the T20 World Cup title, with the BCCI appointing Shreyas Iyer as the new captain.
The BCCI removed Surya following a subpar 2026 IPL season where he managed 270 runs in 13 innings, averaging 20.76, as officials reportedly felt it was the right time to transition leadership.
Surya admitted feeling "completely shocked" after being dropped, spending 40-50 days at home before his wife reminded him of the passion for the game he started playing 20 years ago.
Regarding the captaincy change, Surya expressed disappointment but said he respects the decision, adding, "I played a lot of cricket with Shreyas and I know he is a good player."
India will host Afghanistan in a three-match T20I series at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, with matches scheduled for September 13, 15, and 17.