The exclusion of Shreyas Iyer in Indian team to Asia Cup 2025 has raised eyebrows among fans and experts. The assumption made was that the direct involvement of the head coach Gautam Gambhir in the decision making process. However, new facts show that it is not so, rather it is how the selection process occurs.
Asia Cup 2025 Selection Meeting
On Tuesday, the selection panel met at the BCCI Cricket Centre and the panel included the Secretary of the BCCI Devajit Saikia, Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar, Shiv Sundar Das, Subroto Banerjee, Ajay Ratra, and Sridharan Sharath. T20 skipper Suryakumar Yadav also joined the talks.
Interestingly, Gautam Gambhir was not in attendance. A source confirmed, “Gautam was not a part of the selection meeting. He did not join on video call either. Coaches are a part of the selection process, because they are consulted on the pool of available players. But they are never at the meeting, unless called in as a special invitee ahead of some major events.”
Such an explanation rules out the theory that it was a personal decision made by Gambhir to leave out Iyer or even Yashasvi Jaiswal. The final team was always selected by the selection committee.
Role of Gautam Gambhir in Team Strategy
The coach does not sit in on selection meetings but his input into the overall team strategy is vital. According to the BCCI source, “The coach is constantly in touch with the pool of 25-27 players. He is in touch with the National cricket academy head, with the fitness coach, the strength trainer and the entire backroom staff who provides him information about each player. Depending on the information at hand, he shortlists 20 players, whose roles are then well defined. The final job is done by the selection committee.”
This implies that Gambhir will offer his knowledge and advice, but the selection of the players in the tournament is the sole responsibility of selectors.
Gambhir and Coaches as Selectors
Does the coach ever perform the role of a selector? In some degree, yes. The coach and the captain then decide the playing eleven among the 15-member team which is selected by the selectors. Their involvement is needed when it comes to the time of the tournament but not when it comes to the time of the preliminary squad discussions.
The transfer of a player, either upwards or downwards, occurs in a gradual process of the season. All these modifications are made through continuous reviews and are not decided in one selection meeting.
IPL Performances and World Cup Build-Up
The IPL performance of players was considered in the discussions of the Asia Cup 2025 squad but selectors also paid attention to long-term contributions. They discussed how every cricketer can make a difference to the Indian performance in the next six months, which is the T20 World Cup.
Therefore, the absence of Shreyas Iyer, which has taken many by surprise, is most likely a part of a larger plan by the selectors in consultation with Gambhir and the team management. The process is an expression of a combination of current performance and long-term planning of key international tournaments.
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