Why Sanju Samson is unlikely to replace SKY as India T20I captain over Shreyas Iyer despite T20 World Cup heroics

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Why Sanju Samson is unlikely to replace SKY as India T20I captain over Shreyas Iyer despite T20 World Cup heroics originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:​

• Sanju Samson helped India win the T20 Men's World Cup 2026, boosting his captaincy creds.
• However, his spot in the long-term T20 XI is less secure than Shreyas Iyer's.
• Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's emergence makes it competitive for Samson, and selectors usually prefer captains who are sure to start.

Sanju Samson's uncertain place in India's T20I XI could favour Shreyas Iyer for captaincy​

Selectors are reportedly reviewing Suryakumar Yadav's leadership, and Sanju Samson's name has come up among the discussed contenders thanks to his great performance in the T20 Men's World Cup 2026.

Still, picks aren't just based on current form; long-term strategies matter, which could favour Shreyas Iyer, more so as Samson isn't set in the T20 team like some guys are.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is stepping up, and the likes of Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma are also set to give Samson a run for his money.

If selectors view Sooryavanshi as their go-to player down the road, it makes Samson's role uncertain. Usually, teams want their captain to be a sure thing in the lineup. This doubt could easily put Iyer ahead in the race.

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Iyer's proven leadership makes him the safer choice over Samson for India T20I captaincy​

Samson's hold on the T20 role faces challenges as Shreyas Iyer becomes a stronger choice, offering more stability to the team. Reports even name Iyer as a prime pick should India ditch Suryakumar, with selectors seeing him as a key leader down the line.

With India not having many solid middle-order backups, Iyer’s position is tighter. This ease of selection lets the selectors focus on establishing a steady leadership framework without worrying too much about future shifts.

His background shines too; Iyer's led his domestic and franchise teams well, earning heaps of praise. Add to that his recent improved performance at the crease, and he packs both leadership know-how and lineup surety. These pros might just tip the balance in his favour over Samson for the captaincy gig.

Who should be India's next T20I captain? pic.twitter.com/TsC3tS97Ta

— CricketNews.com (@cricketnews_com) June 4, 2026

MORE:SKY's replacement as India's T20I captain revealed

The Cricket News Opinion: No surprises if Iyer gets picked over Samson for India T20I captain post​

Samson's case for captaincy looked great after he won the T20 Men's World Cup Player of the Tournament and got support from Ravi Shastri. Still, choosing a captain depends more on certainty than feelings, so there's that.

Samson needs to solidify his spot as an opener with no question about it. But Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Gill and other top-order players will compete for opening spots over the next two years leading the to the T20 World Cup 2028.

Until then, Shreyas Iyer might be the safer pick to lead the team. In this close captaincy race, being sure of your place in the lineup could matter more than past achievements.

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