Former Indian batter Robin Uthappa has backed the selectors’ call to change T20I captaincy ahead of the upcoming UK tour. Shreyas Iyer has taken over the leadership baton from Suryakumar Yadav, who led India to glory in 2026 T20 World Cup.

Under Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy, India won 40 out of their 52 matches and suffered only eight losses. However, SKY wasn’t in the best of forms for the last 18 months and the selectors were forced to take a tough call of dropping him.

Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer had led KKR to glory in IPL 2024. Furthermore, he led Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings to the final of the tournament in 2020 and 2025 editions respectively.

Robin Uthappa said on CommBoxTV YouTube Channel, “It is the right time. Though it’s unfortunate for Surya, given his incredible captaincy record, the bad batting form was for too long. And the IPL also didn’t augur any confidence in the selectors. Two years also gives Gambhir and Iyer time to work their chinks out and iron out any issues before the big events in two years. Hopefully, Indian cricket doesn’t go crazy and changes captains before that.”

“It didn’t look like Surya was out of form but just out of runs. That’s the best time to actually take a break and come back after a month or few months. But two years is a good runway he got before being dropped. Unfortunately, age isn’t on his side as well.”

Uthappa said the coach-captain dynamics of Gautam Gambhir and Shreyas Iyer will work as they have worked together for KKR in the IPL.

“It will be a fascinating combination. But the dynamic works because they’ve worked together successfully with KKR,” said Uthappa (via the aforementioned source).

India will play two T20Is against Ireland and five T20I matches against England.