Former Indian chief selector MSK Prasad believes Suryakumar Yadav has not been dropped but he has been rested for the upcoming UK tour. SKY was not only sacked from the captaincy position in T20Is but he could not find a place in the 16-man squad for the upcoming tour despite leading India to T20 World Cup glory.
The Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel have named Shreyas Iyer as India’s new skipper in T20Is. Meanwhile, Agarkar said in the press conference that Suryakumar Yadav’s poor form led to his exclusion from the squad. SKY hasn’t been at his absolute best in the last 18 months and could only manage 270 runs in 13 innings at an average of 20.77 and a strike rate of 147.54 in IPL 2026 for Mumbai Indians.
“You don’t drop your World Cup-winning captain like that and that too in the next international match itself. Jasprit Bumrah is rested and so is Hardik Pandya. I am sure, Surya has also been rested. He is too good and too big a player to be dropped,” MSK Prasad told PTI (via Hindustan Times).
Prasad said India have rested the trio of Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah for the upcoming tour.
“The selectors have rested all three. It’s interesting to see all three — Suryakumar, Hardik and Bumrah — have been No. 1 players in the ICC rankings for a very long time. Bumrah is still No. 1. So, no harm in giving all three rest. I am sure all of them will come back to the team sooner than later,” he added.
The former Indian selector also questioned the current selectors for ignoring Rajat Patidar after the RCB captain delivered consistently in IPL 2026. The RCB skipper amassed 501 runs in 14 innings at an average of 41.75 and a strike rate of 192.69 in the recently concluded season.
“I am really surprised. When will you take him if not now? He has done so well as a player and has been a match-winner. He has led RCB to two consecutive IPL titles. He is in tremendous form and is high on confidence. This was an opportune time to give him a chance. But I am sure selectors have some ideas for him. He may be given a chance in a bigger and tougher series or tournament,” MSK Prasad added.
India will play two T20Is against Ireland and five T20Is against England.
