Harbhajan Singh Critiques BCCI's Decision to Exclude Shreyas Iyer from England Tour
Harbhajan Singh Questions Selection Committee's Omission of Shreyas Iyer
Harbhajan Singh has openly criticized the selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar for leaving Shreyas Iyer out of the Indian squad for the upcoming five-Test series in England, which kicks off on June 20.
Despite his consistent performance as both a player and captain in the recently concluded IPL 2025, Shreyas was not selected for the red-ball team.
This decision has drawn significant backlash from fans and cricket analysts alike since the announcement of the 18-member squad last month. Harbhajan pointed out that Shreyas has demonstrated his capabilities in ODIs and questioned the selectors' perception of him as a red-ball player.
Harbhajan's Comments at the Vidarbha Cricket League Launch
“Shreyas Iyer is an exceptional talent. He has shown his worth in ODIs, excelling in the World Cup, Champions Trophy, and IPL. Therefore, he should have been included in the squad. Perhaps the selectors do not view him as a red-ball player at this time,”
The former Indian off-spinner expressed that had he been part of the selection committee, Shreyas would have definitely made the cut for the crucial England tour. However, he reassured that this setback does not signify the end of Shreyas's Test career. Harbhajan also suggested that Shreyas could emerge as a future candidate for the ODI captaincy.
“If I were on the selection panel, I would have included him. But this is not the conclusion of his journey; he has a long way to go, and he could potentially lead the ODI team in the future. One missed tour does not equate to the end of his career,”
Harbhajan Singh Advocates for Sai Sudharsan in the No. 3 Position
Harbhajan also indicated that Sai Sudharsan, who clinched the Orange Cap in IPL 2025, should be positioned at No. 3 for the Tests against England. He praised the Tamil Nadu batter's impressive IPL performance and solid technique.
“In my view, Sai Sudharsan should occupy the No. 3 spot. He is a left-handed batsman in excellent form, coming off a remarkable IPL season. His technique is robust, and I believe he could be the answer for that position,”
