Shreyas Iyer’s exclusion from India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad has been one of the biggest talking points since the 15-member squad was announced on Tuesday (August 19).
While explaining the decision, BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar highlighted the difficulties of picking a T20I squad from a large skill pool. He asked whose expense Iyer could be included in the final 15.
“With regards to Shreyas, not his fault, nor is it ours. It’s just that you can pick 15 and at the moment you’ll have to wait for his chance,” Agarkar told reporters.
However, the contentious point was that Shreyas Iyer wasn’t even considered in the reserves for the continental showpiece.
Shreyas hasn’t been in the T20 scheme of things since the beginning of 2024. However, he had strengthened his selection claims through consistent performances in the IPL over the past two editions.
The 30-year-old played a key role both as a batter and captain, leading Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to the title win in 2024, and guiding PBKS to the final of the IPL 2025 season.
Like a lot of fans and experts, former India cricketer Subramaniam Badrinath was also left baffled by Shreyas Iyer’s non-selection. He felt Agarkar calling Iyer’s snub “unlucky” was just a “convenient route”.
“He definitely deserved to get selected. Ajit Agarkar said he was unlucky but that’s just a convenient route. Iyer has produced excellent numbers over the last two years and done brilliantly as a captain as well. Instead, they picked Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh for the No. 5 position. Last one year, both have done virtually nothing, with poor numbers,” Badrinath said on his YouTube channel.
According to Badrinath, Shreyas -- an excellent player of spin and a great finisher -- can slot in at No. 5 for India.
“This is not even a 50-50 decision. Shreyas Iyer should have definitely got a look-in. One can say he has batted at No. 3 for his IPL side. But he can easily play at No. 5 for India being an excellent player of spin and a great finisher,” Badrinath stated.
“Especially now, without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, his (Shreyas) experience and leadership is much needed in the team. More than unlucky, this feels like a likeability factor playing a role in selection,” he added.
India will open their Asia Cup 2025 campaign against UAE on September 10 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
India squad for Asia Cup 2025: Surya Kumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (WK), Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh
Stand-bys: Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Yashasvi Jaiswal
