Shreyas Iyer Likely To Lead One T20 Team As BCCI Expands Squad Pool To 35 Players

India's growing white-ball depth has opened up a new possibility for the selectors, with the BCCI now working on a larger T20I player pool that could allow two competitive Indian teams to be fielded at the same time. With the IPL continuing to produce match-ready talent, the board is looking at a long-term structure built around a wider group of 30-35 players rather than relying only on a single core squad.

Overlapping schedules push BCCI towards wider T20 pool

The move comes at a time when India are set to face overlapping commitments later this year. The Asian Games are expected to clash with a T20I series against the West Indies, forcing the board to think beyond the traditional one-squad model.

As reported by NDTV, a BCCI official said, "The Asian Games and India vs West Indies T20 Series are going to be at the same time. So we have to look at two T20 teams playing. It is important from now to have a pool of 30-35 cricketers who can be called up for International assignments. For the upcoming Ireland tour, like most tours to UK, a bigger pool of players will be kept in the squad. This will extend for the Asian Games."

The board is also looking ahead to future scheduling demands, especially with cricket becoming part of major multi-sport events again, including the Olympic Games in 2028. That has increased the need for a stronger reserve bench and better squad flexibility in the T20 format.

Ireland tour could become first step in bigger plan

The upcoming Ireland tour is likely to be used as the first testing ground for this broader vision. Such tours have often given fringe players a chance, but this time the squad could be larger than usual as selectors begin to build a parallel-ready T20 structure.

The same approach is expected to continue through the Asian Games period, with selectors keen to assess a wider group of players under international conditions. India are also scheduled to play a three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in September, although the dates for that series are yet to be finalised.

This suggests the board is now planning not just for one immediate tournament, but for a system that can support multiple assignments over a sustained period.

IPL stars emerge as contenders across batting and all-round roles

A number of IPL performers have already entered the discussion as part of this expanded T20 pool. In the batting department, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Priyansh Arya and Angkrish Raghuvanshi are among the names that have caught the selectors' attention with their attacking style.

Rajat Patidar and Ayush Badoni are also understood to be in contention as India look to deepen their options in the middle order.

Among the all-rounders, Shashank Singh and Anukul Roy could be in line for opportunities, with both players offering the kind of versatility that remains crucial in T20 cricket.

Shreyas Iyer likely to lead one of the T20 sides

On the bowling front, India appear to be considering a mix of youth and experience. Ravi Bishnoi continues to stand out as a strong white-ball option, while Khaleel Ahmed, subject to availability, Prasidh Krishna, Ashok Sharma and Kartik Tyagi are among the pace choices under consideration.

Behind the stumps, Dhruv Jurel is among the leading wicketkeeping contenders in the expanded setup.

Leadership is also beginning to take shape, with Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer likely to lead one of the two T20 teams if the plan is implemented.

With the IPL continuing to throw up a strong pool of young talent, Indian cricket is preparing for a future where two competitive T20 sides may become a necessity rather than an experiment. In effect, the message to youngsters this season is clear: the race is no longer just for a place in the best 15, but for a spot among India's best 35.