I didn’t think this would happen in 2026 From Suryakumar Yadav to Aakash Chopra on being left out of the Indian T20I cricket team

Suryakumar Yadav admitted that he was stunned when he was omitted from India’s T20I plans, and revealed that he was preparing to lead the team during the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 as well as the following T20 World Cup later that year.

Suryakumar was informed by the selectors shortly before he was left out of the squad for the Ireland-England series in June. The 35-year-old said the decision completely surprised him, especially after he led the team to the T20 World Cup title at home in March this year.

“I smiled after I noticed that my name was not there,” he said on the Aakash Chopra show. Beth and Paul Appear on YouTube. “Whenever I was in pressure situations or when things were not going my way, I always smiled and relaxed. I looked back on the past moments and was grateful.

“I didn’t think it would happen in 2026. I was under the impression that I was preparing to take this team forward for another two years – the Olympics, another T20 World Cup and then another challenge down the road.”

“they [India selectors] Contact me two or three days before the team is announced. I think it’s time to move on, they said. I didn’t respond because it’s not my forte. Whatever call was made, the person must have felt it was in the best interest of the team. I received the call and was told that no damage had been done.

Suryakumar established himself as one of India’s leading T20 players, even rising to number one in the ICC rankings in November 2022, before taking over the captaincy on a full-time basis following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from T20Is following the 2024 T20 World Cup. Under his leadership, India won 42 out of 50 completed T20Is and became the first team to defend the Men’s T20 World Cup title and also the first team to lift it on home soil.

But the final match against New Zealand was Suryakumar’s last appearance for India. The selectors then handed over the captaincy to Shreyas Iyer, bringing an unexpected end to the period in which India had remained unbeaten in the T20I series for two years.

“The guy they chose, I have played a lot of cricket with him,” Suryakumar said. “I know he’s a good player, a good human being, a good leader as well. So, I wasn’t upset with the decision but I was disappointed because we haven’t lost a series for two years, won the Asia Cup, the T20 World Cup – you want the same going forward. When everything is going well, why change?”

The decision came after a difficult period with the bat leading up to the World Cup for Suryakumar. He finished that tournament with 242 runs – the third highest for India – which included an unbeaten 84 against the USA. However, his returns in the Indian Premier League were below his usual standards. After managing 717 runs in IPL 2025, he compiled just 270 runs in a forgettable 2026 campaign for Mumbai Indians.

While announcing the decision to move on from Suryakumar, chief selector Ajit Agarkar said: “It’s obviously a difficult decision… having just won the World Cup. But as happens after most World Cups, we are trying to re-evaluate the best way forward.”

“Partly his form, but also given the cycle of the next two years or just over two years until the next World Cup, we thought this was the best way forward,” he added.

Suryakumar said it took a long time to come to terms with the decision. “For a month and a half I kept thinking, ‘How can this happen? How can this be possible? We have just won the World Cup. Yes, the Indian Premier League was not as good as I wanted it to be,'” Suryakumar said.

“Friends and family consoled me that this is part of life. But once they leave, you’re alone with your family. We were thinking, how is this possible?”

Despite being ruled out, Suryakumar has no intention of walking away from the game. He is still hopeful of returning to India’s plans and is willing to wait for another opportunity.

“I’m ready, I’m still playing, and I’ll continue to do so. When you feel the time is right, and things are right, call me.”