Gautam Gambhir Addresses Shreyas Iyer's Omission from England Test Series

In a recent media interaction, India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir addressed the exclusion of Shreyas Iyer from the Test squad for the upcoming series against England. Despite Iyer's strong performances in ODIs and the IPL, Gambhir emphasized that he is not involved in selection decisions. Ajit Agarkar, the chairman of selectors, also provided insights into Iyer's omission, citing his underwhelming Test performance last year. This decision has sparked surprise among fans and experts alike. Read on for more details about this significant development in Indian cricket.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 29, 2025, 12:25 IST

Gambhir Responds to Iyer's Exclusion

India's head coach, Gautam Gambhir, provided a strong reply when asked about Shreyas Iyer's absence from the upcoming Test series against England. While Shubman Gill is set to lead the five-match series, Iyer's name is notably missing from the selected players.

Despite Iyer's impressive performance in One-Day Internationals and his pivotal role in India's Champions Trophy win, he has not been included in the Test squad for the England tour.

Iyer has shown excellent batting form lately and has also exhibited solid leadership skills while playing for Punjab Kings in the IPL. This has led to surprise among fans and analysts regarding his exclusion from the Test team.

During a media session on Wednesday, Gambhir was asked about Iyer's omission. When questioned about the Mumbai batter's absence despite his strong IPL and domestic performances, Gambhir's response was direct and succinct.

Gambhir stated:

"Main Selector Nahi Hun (I am not the selector)".

Ajit Agarkar, the chairman of selectors, had earlier explained the rationale behind Iyer's exclusion. He noted that Iyer's recent Test performances did not meet expectations. Iyer last played in a Test match during the home series against England last year, where he scored only 106 runs across four innings, averaging 26. Consequently, he was dropped from the Test squad.

Agarkar remarked:

"Shreyas had a good one-day series, played well in domestic as well but right now there's no room in Test cricket."

Thus, while Iyer has excelled in limited-overs formats, his recent Test performance has resulted in his absence from the team.

More updates to come...