Shreyas Iyer's 87 Knocks Out MI, Ignites Selection Row; But BCCI Slaps ₹24 Lakh Fine for Slow Over Rate
In what many are calling a glaring oversight, Shreyas Iyer, despite an outstanding run as both leader and batsman, has been left out of the Team India squad, even as Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant step in as captain and vice-captain. The decision comes despite Iyer's consistent performance across formats and tournaments, including a match-winning masterclass in the IPL 2025 Qualifier 2.
An Unstoppable 15-Month Streak
Iyer's recent cricketing journey reads like a champion's resume:
Ranji Trophy winner with Mumbai
IPL 2024 champion with Kolkata Knight Riders
Irani Cup winner with Mumbai
Clinched the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) as the captain of Mumbai
Champions Trophy winner
Now in the IPL 2025 Final with Punjab Kings
Qualifier 2 Heroics: Statement Knock When It Mattered Most
Just last night, Iyer delivered a captain's performance of the highest order. His unbeaten 87 off just 41 balls dismantled the five-time champions Mumbai Indians, steering Punjab Kings to a five-wicket victory in Qualifier 2.
Despite leading Punjab Kings to a stunning victory over Mumbai Indians, Shreyas Iyer finds himself at the center of two major talking points- his omission from India's playing squad, and a hefty ₹24 lakh fine imposed by the BCCI for a slow over rate.
Adding to the post-match drama, BCCI also fined Hardik Pandya for the same over-rate infraction, intensifying debate over leadership and accountability on the field.
With the win, Punjab Kings entered their first final since 2014, and as the IPL marks its 18th season, it guarantees a new champion will be crowned. PBKS are set to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru; four-time finalists on Tuesday, June 3.
Team India Exclusion: A Shocking Call?
Despite these heroics, Iyer has been overlooked in favor of a younger leadership duo. The decision has triggered a wave of reactions from fans and pundits alike. Many are questioning what more Iyer needs to do to earn his spot back. Many took to social media to question the selectors' decision to leave out a player who has consistently delivered under pressure this season.
His fitness, once a point of concern, is now proven. His form is peaking. And his leadership is delivering trophies.
Still in the Race
With the IPL 2025 final approaching and Iyer in prime form, there may still be time for the selectors to reconsider.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
'When All They Came For Was Joy...': PV Sindhu Prays For Bengaluru Stampede Victims
Ace Indian shuttler PV Sindhu expressed her horror at the events in Bengaluru following Royal Challengers Bengaluru's maiden IPL title as what was supposed to be a day of joyous celebration after RCB's 6-run win over Punjab Kings in the final of the 2025 edition of the money-rich T20 franchise league to end a 18-year-drought ended with casualties in the double-digits. Sindhu took to the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, to send her condolences and strength to those affected by the terrible stampede tragedy in the Karnataka Capital City.
India Today
2 hours ago
- India Today
Celebration turns into chaos: How Bengaluru stampede unfolded during RCB's IPL bash
What began as a city-wide celebration for Royal Challengers Bengaluru's historic Indian Premier League title win turned tragic on Wednesday, June 4, after a stampede near the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium left 11 people dead and over 40 had announced celebrations with fans in Bengaluru on Wednesday, a day after they defeated Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 final to end the 18-year-wait for local authorities had denied permission for an open-top bus parade that was scheduled to run from the Vidhana Soudha to the Bengaluru stadium-a distance of just one kilometre. However, over two lakh fans thronged the area to catch a glimpse of the RCB team, returning home with the trophy after their 18-year-long wait. RCB had announced a celebratory event in the evening with the fans. While entry to the stadium was permitted only through passes, fans without access gathered in massive numbers around the premises. According to preliminary information shared with the government, a temporary slab placed over a drain near the stadium premises collapsed under the weight of those standing on it. The collapse reportedly caused panic, leading to a is the account of Nikhil Naz, Consulting Editor – Sports, who was at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium along with cameraman Deepak, describing how the stampede stampede happened outside Cubbon Park Metro Station. It occurred as a huge crowd of youth, mostly males, blocked a road to dance. People who were trying to move to either side of the road could not move because the road was blocked by this boisterous crowd. That's when people started pushing into the crowd, trying to move either to the left or the right side of the the melee, young people-mostly girls and some teenage boys-got trampled upon. There were no security personnel in this area. Security had restricted themselves to only the people who got trampled fainted and were brought inside the stadium to be taken to hospital in the ambulances that were deployed inside. Some were taken to hospital by ambulance. But because there were only two ambulances inside, some weren't lucky enough to get who didn't get an ambulance were carried in the arms by security personnel. These security people ran towards the main road to find cars to take these unconscious people to the nearby hospital. Because the roads immediately outside the stadium were blocked by crowds, unconscious people had to be carried for 500 metres to reach a point where regular traffic was got caught in the crowd because we were heading to Gate 13, our entry point. When we started going towards the gate, there were three different forces: one going in one direction (Cubbon Park to Gate 13), another going in the opposite direction (from Gate 13 towards Gates 1 and 2), and a third force of people who were standing in the middle of the road, screaming and one stage, we lost control of our movement and naturally got pushed around, eventually reaching outside the whirlpool of the crowd. But because me and Deepak (my cameraman) are full-grown men, we could survive the push of the crowd. Women and young male fans, however, would have easily succumbed to the force of the crowd and got trampled a statement, RCB said it amended the fan interaction event immediately upon learning of the incident. "The safety and well-being of everyone is of utmost importance to us," the statement secretary Devajit Saikia acknowledged there were lapses in the organisation of the event, but clarified that the cricket board had no role in it. IPL chairman Arun Dhumal said the board was not even informed about who was behind the RCB team was earlier felicitated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at the Vidhana Soudha. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had received the players at the airport earlier in the day before joining them for the event in the evening. You May Also Like IN THIS STORY#IPL 2025
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- The Hindu
At long last: on the IPL, Royal Challengers Bengaluru's win
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) played the Indian Premier League's (IPL) inaugural game on April 18, 2008. It was a night that, however, belonged to rival Kolkata Knight Riders with Brendon McCullum's unbeaten 158 putting the match well beyond the host in its backyard at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. In the subsequent editions, the franchise with a fiercely loyal fan base, promised much, delivered little and had three runner-up finishes to show. Finally, the ghosts of the past were laid to rest when Rajat Patidar's men claimed the title with a six-run victory over Punjab Kings in the summit clash at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium on Tuesday night. RCB's triumph in the IPL's 18th edition was also a tribute to Virat Kohli's longevity. He has been with the squad since its first game in 2008. In a unit that featured stars such as Rahul Dravid, AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle and Ross Taylor in the past, Kohli has been the forever spine. The young lad has grown into a patriarch, and he has achieved enough and more with the Indian team, both as player and captain, but a missing IPL trophy, always rankled him. Finally that aberration has been corrected and there was no mistaking the relief and joy that coursed through him on a surreal June night. Patidar's assurance, Kohli's experience, spinner Krunal Pandya's choking spells, and Josh Hazlewood's sharp pace, all combined well while many others dished out cameos to keep RCB in the hunt through the latest IPL. Even if the cup proved elusive, Punjab Kings did remarkably well, especially its captain Shreyas Iyer; he will have a larger role with the Indian ODI team whenever Rohit Sharma and Kohli bid adieu to that format. Among the rest, Mumbai Indians, after a lukewarm start, surged back and found a berth in the play-offs, one that also featured Gujarat Titans. If the IPL was all about RCB's redemption song and Punjab Kings' chutzpah, equally, it mirrored the decline of a pedigreed outfit, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), which finished last. An ageing M.S. Dhoni could not stem the rot and former champion CSK will have to rebuild afresh in the coming editions. Having commenced on March 22, the IPL stretched interminably and a break caused by the Pahalgam terror attack and the resultant Operation Sindoor, forced a change in schedule. The IPL also highlighted talented players such as young Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Sai Sudharsan. As a sporting brand, the league is formidable but, as Kohli said, Tests are five levels above in quality and, hopefully, modern players will respect this reality.
