Shreyas Iyer "Not Liked As Much As...": On Asia Cup Snub Reason, Ex-India Coach Drops Bombshell

NDTV

18 hours ago

Shreyas Iyer 's omission from India's Asia Cup squad, announced by BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar and T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav on Tuesday, took everyone by surprise. Iyer was not only India's top performer in the Champions Trophy triumph but also did exceptionally well in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. He led Punjab Kings from the front, taking them to the final, and scored 604 runs in 17 matches at a strike rate of 175.07. He was the sixth-highest scorer in IPL 2025. Despite such a rich form, Iyer does not find himself in the 15-member Asia Cup squad. He is not among the five standbys.
Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar was unhappy with the treatment meted out to Shreyas Iyer.
"I don't know, actually, I wanted to ask that question — aapke reserve players mein kaise nahi hai woh, if he is such a strong contender. Sometimes, you know, selection meetings can be quite interesting, and the discussions that happen in them can be very interesting," Nayar said on Star Sports.
"But I can't fathom, and I don't understand, what reason can justify Shreyas Iyer not being part of that 20-member squad. I'm not even talking about the 15, I'm talking about the 20-member squad, which sends a message to Shreyas Iyer that he is not in the team's scheme of things. Because even if things don't work out, he is still not coming into the team. Either Riyan Parag is going to make the cut, or someone else is," he added.
"So, the big question here is that maybe they are not looking at him from a T20 point of view — or perhaps any other point of view. But I always say this that any selection after a while is, 'who you like a little more than the other'. In that regard, maybe Shreyas Iyer is not liked as much as someone else. Maybe."
BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar said Iyer will have to wait for his chance. "With regards to Shreyas, there's no fault of his — nor is it ours. It's just that we can only pick 15, and at the moment, he might have to wait for his chance," said Agarkar.
"With regards to Yashasvi Jaiswal, it's just unfortunate again. Abhishek Sharma, with what he has done over the last few months — or a year or so that he has been with the team — plus the fact that he can bowl a little, gives us an option if required by the captain. One of these guys was always going to miss out. It's just unfortunate that Yashasvi might have to wait for his chance."