IndiaT20I squad announcement for upcoming tours Ireland and England especially after the voters were removed, it caused a lot of debate Suryakumar Yadav gave him the reins of leadership as captain Shreyas Iyer. While the decision marks the beginning of a new era in India’s T20 set-up, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar expressed his surprise at the appointment and suggested it Shubman Gill might have been a more suitable long-term candidate for the role.
Talkative Sony Sports Network soon after the lineup was announced, Manjrekar shared his thoughts on the leadership change and highlighted the factors that could influence the voters’ decision.
Sanjay Manjrekar was surprised by Shreyas Iyer’s promotion
Manjrekar described Iyer’s appointment as one of the most exciting aspects of the squad announcement. The former batsman pointed out that Iyer had not been a regular part of India’s T20I plans in recent months, making his direct elevation to the captaincy a significant development.
According to Manjrekar, when a player is appointed captain or vice-captain, it is important that the individual has a clearly defined role in the team. While he acknowledged Iyer’s credentials and recent performances, he admitted the move came as a surprise given the long absence of a corpse in the national T20 setup.
The selectors seem to have believed in Iyer’s impressive performances in franchise cricket and his leadership record in the last few seasons.
“Shreyas Iyer is a very interesting choice. He hasn’t been in the T20 squad for the last few months. But now, immediately, India’s T20 captain. When you pick a player or make him captain or vice-captain, you also have to make sure that player fits the squad and G. because I think Gill has better credentials than Shreyas Iyer to be India’s long-term T20 captain.” Manjrekar said.
Why did Manjrekar prefer Shubman Gill?
While discussing the potential captaincy candidates, Manjrekar stated that Gill has the stronger credentials to lead India’s T20 side for the long term. He believes Gill’s stature and growing leadership experience in Indian cricket make him a natural contender for future captaincy duties.
The former cricketer also looked into India’s upcoming challenges, noting that the team will play Ireland and England away from home before preparing for the T20 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. According to him, Gill’s leadership style and cricketing profile made him an attractive choice for these conditions.
However, Manjrekar admitted that there was a major hurdle in Gill’s path to captaincy – his place in the playing XI. With India already having many strong opening options and young talent continuing to emerge, fitting Gill into the team consistently could prove difficult for the selectors.
“The T20S will now be played away from India, Ireland, England, two venues and finally the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, and I believe Gill was better suited to take on that responsibility, but that’s just a cricketing mindset. But how do you fit Gill into a playing 11? a playing 11. As Gill is the first batsman, he’s lost that opportunity or another appointment, but his time is not far away.” Manjrekar added.
Also READ: Suryakumar Yadav breaks his silence after losing India’s T20I captaincy to Shreyas Iyer
The balance of the team can influence the decision of the selectors
Manjrekar suggested that team composition played a significant role in the final decision. As Iyer can slot comfortably into the middle order, his inclusion in the playing XI seems simpler than Gill at the moment. India’s top-flight combinations have become increasingly competitive, with established performers and emerging stars vying for limited spots. As a result, the selectors may have preferred a captain whose position in the batting order fits more naturally with the team’s current structure.
Despite this missed opportunity, Manjrekar is optimistic about Gill’s leadership future. He believes that the young striker’s opportunity to lead India is only a matter of time and he will remain determined to fight for senior leadership responsibilities in the years to come. Currently, the Indian T20 side is entering a new chapter under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer and the selectors are backing him to guide the team in the next phase of their white-ball journey.
Also READ: Ajit Agarkar explains Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy and why he lost his place in India’s T20I squad
