Will Shreyas Iyer be India’s next ODI captain?

India’s chief selector Ajit Agarkar has praised Shreyas Iyer’s leadership abilities and suggested that the middle-order batter could be in contention to captain India’s ODI side in the future. Iyer has been named captain of India A for the upcoming three-match One-Day series against Australia A, starting September 30 at home, taking over the role from Rajat Patidar and Tilak Varma. With India’s ODI team likely to undergo a leadership shift soon, Iyer now joins the list of potential successors to Rohit Sharma, which also includes current Test captain Shubman Gill.

Speaking at a press conference in Dubai on September 25, where India’s Test squad for the West Indies tour was announced, Agarkar was asked about Iyer’s captaincy prospects in ODIs. He explained that the India A setup offers selectors and team management a platform to assess leadership qualities.

“We haven’t really discussed the 50-over captaincy yet. Right now, the focus is on picking the Test squad for these two matches. Shreyas is a senior player who already captains his IPL franchise. He’s led India A before as well. We are trying to identify leadership potential in a number of players, and India A gives us that chance,” Agarkar said.

Iyer, who requested a six-month break from red-ball cricket due to recurring lower back spasms, was not considered for the West Indies Tests. However, he remains available for white-ball formats and accepted the responsibility of leading India A. Agarkar emphasized Iyer’s significance in limited-overs cricket, especially given India’s packed schedule.

“A statement has already clarified his fitness status for red-ball cricket, which rules him out of Tests for now. But he has been an important player in ODIs for the past few years. This series gives him three matches before we head to Australia. More than anything, we want him on the field, performing well, because he’s a vital part of the one-day side,” Agarkar noted.

Iyer’s attention will soon turn to the three-match ODI series against Australia, beginning October 14 at Perth Stadium. That series will also see the return of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to the ODI squad. While Iyer has only managed 59 runs from three ODI games in Australia so far, his recent form — including finishing as India’s top scorer in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 — strengthens his case. The upcoming series could be his opportunity to produce a defining knock in Australia and further establish himself as both a key batter and a leadership option.