Shreyas Iyer's exclusion from the Asia Cup 2025 squad has sparked considerable debate and raised questions about the selection process. Despite a strong performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 and demonstrating his capabilities in previous international matches, the stylish batter was omitted from the 15-man squad, leading to surprise and disappointment among fans and cricket analysts.
Iyer's recent form has been noteworthy. In the IPL 2025, he scored 604 runs in 17 matches with an average of 50.33 and a strike rate of 175.07. He led the Punjab Kings to the final, a feat they hadn't achieved since 2014. Furthermore, Iyer was India's highest scorer in the Champions Trophy earlier in the year, amassing 243 runs in five innings with an average of 48.60, including two half-centuries. These statistics highlight his consistency and ability to perform under pressure.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar addressed the questions surrounding Iyer's exclusion, stating that it was not due to poor form but rather a matter of team balance and available slots. Agarkar noted the difficulty in finding a place for Iyer in the squad, given the existing composition and the need to pick only 15 players. He also mentioned Abhishek Sharma's consistency and the added advantage of his bowling ability as factors influencing the decision. "With regards to Shreyas, you will have to tell us who he can replace. Again, no fault of his and no fault of ours, it's just that you can pick 15, he will have to wait for his chance," Agarkar said.
However, this explanation has not been universally accepted. Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar expressed his dissatisfaction, suggesting that Iyer might not be as favored as other players. "Maybe Shreyas Iyer is not liked as much as someone else. Maybe," Nayar stated, hinting at possible biases in the selection process. Nayar also questioned why Iyer wasn't included even in the reserve players list.
Ravichandran Ashwin also voiced his disappointment, calling Iyer's exclusion "extremely unfair". Ashwin highlighted Iyer's performance in the Champions Trophy and his leadership in the IPL, where he guided his team to victory. He emphasized that Iyer had overcome his weaknesses against short balls and was performing well against top bowlers.
Despite the setback, some believe that Iyer still has a future in the Indian T20I side. Irfan Pathan expressed confidence that Iyer would not only be in the team but also be a part of the leadership group. Pathan urged Iyer to remain patient and continue working hard.
Iyer's journey in T20Is has been marked by inconsistency in team selection. He debuted in 2017 but struggled to secure a regular spot. Although he appeared more frequently between 2019 and 2021, he was ultimately left out of the 2021 T20 World Cup squad. A similar situation occurred in the 2022 and 2024 editions. He last played a T20I in December 2023 against Australia. In his T20I career, he has scored over 1100 runs in 51 matches at a strike rate of over 135.
The exclusion from the Asia Cup 2025 squad raises concerns about Iyer's prospects for the upcoming T20 World Cup. With strong competition in the middle order, it remains to be seen whether he will be able to regain his place in the team.
