On Tuesday, the 15-member squad was announced by the selection committee, followed by 5 standby players. The biggest surprise in the announcement was the missing name of Shreyas Iyer; his name was neither in the main squad nor in the standby players.
When the selector was questioned about the Iyer exclusion, he said, “It’s neither his fault nor ours; who can he replace?” He also added that he has to wait for his chances. This answer seems so casual for a player like Iyer, who did a great job recently. This statement does not justify his exclusion. The Iyer performed so well in the middle order and major tournaments like the Champions Trophy. But if the T20 selection is based on IPL, then in IPL 2025, he scored 604 runs with an average of 50.33 and a strike rate of 175.07 in 17 matches. He played iconic innings there and took his team, Punjab Kings, to the finals. He batted at numbers 3 and 4, which are important positions in T-20 cricket, where you have not only to score but also to maintain the strike rate. He gave it all as a batsman and a strong contender for a place in Team India. He is not even in the 20-man scheme, which may be a signal from the selector that he is not a part of their upcoming T-20 World Cup also.
Iyer had proven himself not only as a formidable batsman but also as an impressive captain in IPL 2025 and the previous season also. In 2024, he led KKR and won the IPL 2024. Iyer also said that he didn't get the due credit in KKR; that's why he parted ways with them. Delhi Capitals reached the playoffs and finals for the first time when he took charge of the captaincy in IPL 2020. Players like him deserve to be in the leadership group. Even a few days ago, a report came out of PTI where they claimed a BCCI official claimed that Iyer will be part of the T-20 international, but now he didn't even get a spot in the squad.
Expert Opinions on Shreyas Iyer’s Exclusion
Former assistant coach of India Abhishek Nayar, expert Akash Chopra, and former cricketer Ashwin expressed their displeasure with Iyer's exclusion. Nayar said on Star Sports, "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 going for 15; I’m going for that 20-member squad, which sort of tells and sends the message to Shreyas Iyer that you are not in a 20-man scheme of things, because even if things don’t work out, you are not coming in the team." Nayar added, “Maybe Iyer is not liked as much as someone else.
Ashwin said on his YouTube channel, “Look at the credentials of Shreyas—he went out of the team but came in the Champions Trophy and did amazing batting. He won and gave it to you—what Shreyas has done wrong is that he did brilliantly well for KKR and made them win. He was sent into the auction. He then took Punjab to the finals for the first time since 2014. He overcame the short ball problem and was hitting the likes of Kagiso Rabada & Jasprit Bumrah with ease in the IPL. What else can he do?”
Akash Chopra said on his YouTube channel, “Shreyas Iyer not being there is a big story. What more will Shreyas Iyer have to do? What more can you do than what you have already done? You had a 600-plus-run IPL season, took the team to the final, scored runs in SMAT & in Ranji, and won the Champions Trophy. That’s all you can do as a human being. But I have a strong feeling that Shreyas will be a part of the T20 World Cup Squad.
Personal things should be put aside when you select the team; you should look at what is in the best interest of the team and reward those who have performed well recently. Iyer fulfilled all the expectations but still didn't find a place in the squad. Hope he will be in the squad of T-20I as the selector mentioned that this is not the final squad for T-20 World Cup and his performance will get rewarded.