Shreyas Iyer Not Even A Reserve Player For Asia Cup 2025: BCCI Explains Why

The exclusion of Hreyas Iyer in the Indian Squad in the Asia Cup 2025 has drawn a lot of controversy between fans and analysts. The star batter was also the highest run-scorer in the Champions trophy 2025, scoring 243 runs in 5 matches at an average of 48.60 with two fifties and a top score of 79.

Performance Stats Highlight Iyer’s Credentials

Iyer had an equally good form in IPL 2025. In 17 matches, he made 604 runs with an average of 50.33 and strike-rate of 175.07. He made 6 half-centuries and highest score of 97*. All these figures make his omission in the 15-man main team and the five-man reserves list an eyebrow raiser across the cricketing fraternity.

Even Abhishek Nayar, a former assistant coach of India had complained about the treatment of Iyer. “I don’t know, actually, I wanted to ask that question – aapke reserve players mein kaise nahi hai woh, if he is such a strong contender. Sometimes, you know, selection meetings can be quite interesting, and the discussions that happen in them can be very interesting,” Nayar said on Star Sports.

Selection Questions Stir Debate

Nayar also wondered what was the rationale of not selecting Iyer at all. “But 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 even talking about the 15, I’m talking about the 20-member squad, which sends a message to Shreyas Iyer that he is not in the team’s scheme of things. Because even if things don’t work out, he is still not coming into the team. Either Riyan Parag is going to make the cut, or someone else is,” he added.

“So, the big question here is that maybe they are not looking at him from a T20 point of view – or perhaps any other point of view. But I always say this that any selection after a while is, ‘who you like a little more than the other’. In that regard, maybe Shreyas Iyer is not liked as much as someone else. Maybe.”

BCCI Clarifies Reason for Exclusion

A report has now provided the official explanation as to why Iyer was not included. A BCCI source said Iyer was not part of the reserves as he did not figure in the list of reserves. “A seasoned player like Shreyas can’t be named in the reserves, please understand this! If you pick him, he plays in the XI. No one has any grudge against Iyer. He will get his chances and play many matches for India in all three formats. It’s just that right now, he didn’t fit in!”

This explanation indicates that Iyer is not excluded because of his personality. As fans keep arguing over the move, the credentials of Shreyas Iyer cannot be doubted and he should play a major role in future future Indian campaigns in all formats.

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