Gautam Gambhir, the newly appointed head coach of the Indian cricket team, has addressed the recent exclusion of Shreyas Iyer from the Test squad for the upcoming England series. In a succinct response to media queries, Gambhir stated, "I am not a selector," deflecting further comment on the matter.
The omission of Shreyas Iyer from the 18-member squad has indeed raised eyebrows among fans and cricket analysts alike. Despite his strong performance in the recent IPL season, where he amassed 514 runs in 14 matches for Punjab Kings, leading them to the playoffs, Iyer did not find a place in the Test team. Iyer has been a regular member of India's ODI setup, has not featured in the Test team since February 2024. His performance in the first two Tests against England likely contributed to his exclusion from the remaining matches. After that, he scored 480 runs at an average of 68.57 across six games in the Ranji Trophy.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar acknowledged Iyer's good form in both domestic cricket and the ODI format. However, he stated that, at present, there is no available spot for him in the Test team. Apart from Iyer, Mohammed Shami was also a notable absentee, with his fitness levels not being up to the mark for a gruelling five-match Test series.
The squad sees the return of Karun Nair after seven years, rewarding his record-breaking domestic season. The team will also include fresh faces like B. Sai Sudharsan and left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, who have received their maiden Test call-ups. After Rohit Sharma's retirement from the red-ball format, Shubman Gill has been named India's 37th Test captain.
The Indian team is scheduled to play five Tests in England, starting on June 20 in Leeds, followed by matches in Birmingham, London, and Manchester, concluding on August 4.
