Shreyas Iyer made 604 runs in IPL 2025 with SR of 176 and took PBKS to the final.
Shreyas Iyer had won the IPL 2024 for Kolkata Knight Riders and then took the Punjab Kings to the final of the IPL 2025 tournament. Iyer also had an excellent tournament, scoring 604 runs with a strike rate of over 176 with six fifties and a best score of 97*.
Monty Panesar, former England spinner, has attempted to figure out why Shreyas was left out. Shreyas' senior status could be the cause, according to Panesar, since head coach Gautam Gambhir may find it simpler to oversee younger players.
"One of the reasons Shreyas Iyer is probably struggling to get into the Indian squad is because he brings those leadership skills, and, at the moment, possibly they've got that covered. It allows them to bring in someone younger, a bit more exciting to play, who would be easier to manage for coach Gautam Gambhir," Panesar said in an interview with India Today.
Suryakumar Yadav has been India's T20I captain, while Gambhir has been the country's head coach. But in a strong indication of India's long-term captaincy intentions, 25-year-old Shubman Gill, who excelled as Test captain in England, was given the T20I vice-captaincy.
It is important to note that Shreyas has not played a T20I for India since December 2023, and India has won 17 out of their last 20 T20Is.
"I think him being the captain in IPL makes it a bit difficult for him to get into that team. But I do believe, if he keeps scoring runs, he should be playing. It's just the talent; the talent is unbelievable. I think India has never been so blessed and lucky that they can pull out probably two or three teams right now and compete against the world," Panesar further said.
Shreyas Iyer will still have the chance to put his name up for the T20 World Cup 2026, as after the Asia Cup, India is scheduled to play several T20I matches, including a five-match series against South Africa at home and against Australia down under.