Ashwin questions Suryakumar Yadav axe after World Cup skipper role

R Ashwin criticizes Suryakumar Yadav's sudden removal from India's T20I side just months after leading them to a World Cup title.

Suryakumar's recent struggles Suryakumar Yadav faced a tough period with the bat, scoring just 242 runs at a strike rate of 136.72 during the T20 World Cup. In the subsequent IPL, his form didn’t improve, managing only 270 runs at 147.54. His axing from the T20I squad came swiftly after captaining India to the World Cup triumph. ## Ashwin's reaction to the exclusion R Ashwin expressed concern over how Suryakumar Yadav’s dismissal was handled, calling it an interesting precedent. He acknowledged the player’s emotions, saying, 'I just want to put myself in Suryakumar Yadav's shoes and think how he would be feeling right now.' Ashwin noted that despite not being at his best with the bat, Suryakumar had led India to victory in the T20 World Cup. ## Captaincy's role in selection Ashwin highlighted that Suryakumar’s leadership role in winning the T20 World Cup should not be overlooked. He questioned whether a captain who had secured such a major trophy would typically be dropped without warning. 'Didn’t have the greatest of great World Cups as a batter but surely, just like everyone else in the team.. he's also quite been the best-performing skipper, right?' Ashwin remarked. ## Future selection implications The spinner warned that the decision sets a precedent for future selections, raising questions about how other senior players might be treated. 'Can we put big stalwarts in his shoes? Has there been an instance where a captain who's won the T20 World Cup has been left out without any ultimatum?' he asked. Ashwin believed this could become a landmark moment in selection history. ## Shreyas Iyer's appointment Shreyas Iyer was named as Suryakumar’s replacement despite not featuring in a T20I for over two years. During his absence, Iyer led Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL title in 2024 and guided Punjab Kings to the final in 2025. Ashwin accepted Iyer’s credentials but questioned the fairness for other long-serving players in the World Cup-winning squad. ## Challenges ahead for new captain Ashwin suggested that Shreyas Iyer’s sudden elevation to captaincy would be a tough transition. 'If I am one of the other 14 members in that T20 World Cup-winning side, I'm looking at one another and saying, 'hey, we've been here for a while now. Haven't we done enough to warrant a position as a captain?'' he shared.