Abhishek Nayar, the former assistant coach of India was not surprised by the fact that Shreyas Iyer did not make it to the Indian team which will take part in the Asia Cup 2025, not even in the standby list. Nayar cast doubt on the reasoning behind the exclusion of Iyer, and that it may be based more on personal choice than cricketing ability.
Selection Controversy Surrounds Iyer
“I wanted to ask him (Agarkar) how he (Iyer) is not among the reserve players, if he is such a strong contender? Sometimes the selection meetings and the discussions that happen can be quite interesting, but I can’t fathom, I can’t understand,” Nayar said while speaking on Star Sports.
India has named Shubman Gill as the vice-captain of India in the T20 format before the upcoming Asia Cup in UAE. The powerful bowling line-up of India will be reinforced by ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah. In the meantime, Iyer, who is expected to be a No. 3 of the future in T20Is, does not find a spot at all, despite having a phenomenal IPL 2025 season where he averaged nearly 50 with 604 runs to his name.
Iyer’s Credentials vs. Team Preferences
“It sort of tells and sends a message to Shreyas Iyer that you aren’t in our 20-man scheme of things, because even if things do not work out, you aren’t going to be in the team,” Nayar added.
Iyer has 1104 runs in 47 T20Is with an average of 30.66 and a strike rate of 136.12. His final T20I match was against Australia in Bengaluru in December, 2023 where he scored a brisk 53 off 37 balls as a No. 3 batsman. But, he was dropped on India tour of South Africa in favor of Tilak Varma and this raises question marks over team strategy.
Speculations on Selection Bias
“(In that case) either Riyan Parag will come or someone else. The big question here is whether they are looking at him from a T20 point of view. I always say this, selection, after a while, becomes about who you like a little more than the other. Maybe Shreyas Iyer isn’t as liked as someone else is,” Nayar said.
With India about to host the Asia Cup to defend their title and start the journey of the 2026 T20 World Cup, controversy over the issue of fairness and meritocracy in team selection is growing. The critics suggest that Iyer has been a regular performer and has experience in T20s and thus the absence of him is even more confusing.
Road to the 2026 T20 World Cup
Asia Cup will provide India with a major opportunity to try its T20 combinations before the 2026 T20 World Cup. Having such experienced stars as Bumrah and budding prospects as Tilak Varma, the management has to grapple with the issue of performance and strategic favoritism, particularly in the case of a tried and tested batter like Iyer being dropped.
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