Shreyas Iyer's Exclusion from Indian Team Sparks Debate Amid Stellar Performances

Shreyas Iyer's Ongoing Struggles with Team Selection

The recent performance of Shreyas Iyer has ignited discussions about his absence from the Indian cricket team. Despite proving his fitness for both One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Test matches, securing a spot as a first-choice player remains a challenge for him. His remarkable display during the 2025 Champions Trophy raised eyebrows when he was left out of the squad for the Test series against England. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar previously addressed this issue, stating that Iyer is still not fully prepared for red-ball cricket. Recently, during a press conference on June 5, Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir was also questioned about Iyer's future in the team.

Gautam Gambhir's Response on Team Selection

In the press briefing, Gambhir responded diplomatically when asked about Shreyas Iyer's prospects. He emphasized that the selection door remains open for any player demonstrating good form. Gambhir stated,

“Anyone can be called. Anyone can be called if they are in good form. We could only pick 18, and the chairman of the selection committee has already answered that question (why Iyer was not picked). For me, it’s always about being open to people who are in good form, who can come in and deliver.”

Shreyas Iyer's Impressive Track Record

Shreyas Iyer made a remarkable entry into Test cricket with a century against New Zealand in Kanpur. However, after a decline in performance during the England Test series in early 2024, he was omitted from the format. Although he was advised to participate in the Ranji Trophy, he declined due to back spasms, which ultimately affected his BCCI Central Contract. Despite this setback, Iyer emerged as the third-highest run-scorer for India in the 2023 ODI World Cup, accumulating 530 runs and becoming the first Indian to exceed 500 runs while batting at number four.

Iyer managed his fitness with painkiller injections and worked on his conditioning at the KKR academy, with the Mumbai state board monitoring his progress. However, his refusal to play in a Ranji match raised concerns within the BCCI.

Nonetheless, he achieved significant success in domestic tournaments and led the Kolkata Knight Riders to victory in the 2024 IPL. In early 2025, he scored 181 runs in an ODI series against England, despite not being a first-choice player. During the 2025 Champions Trophy, he finished as the second-highest scorer with 243 runs. In the 2025 IPL season with the Punjab Kings, Iyer amassed 604 runs, including six half-centuries, although a careless shot in the final against Romario Shepherd left him as a runner-up.