The announcement of India’s 15-man squad for the Asia Cup has stirred debate, with Shreyas Iyer’s exclusion being the biggest surprise. Not only was he left out of the main team, but he also failed to find a place among the reserves.
Former India Test captain Ajinkya Rahane said Iyer must be “really disappointed” after such a strong run in domestic cricket and the IPL. He added:
“I’m sure he (Shreyas Iyer) must be really disappointed considering the kind of IPL he had. It was a fantastic season. Even in domestic cricket, especially in the 50-over format, he has performed really well whenever given opportunities. I can completely understand the team management’s point of view, since they can only pick 15 players and need to see the balance of the team,” Rahane said on his YouTube channel.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav and head selector Ajit Agarkar spoke to the media after choosing the team. The decision to exclude Shreyas from the team was questioned by the former India bowler. He expressed regret that the Mumbai hitter had to be excluded, but the selectors were only allowed to choose 15 players, and they were unable to include him.
“In terms of Shreyas, it’s again unfortunate. You tell me who he can replace in this squad. It’s not his fault, nor ours, it’s just that only 15 can be picked, and at the moment, he has to wait for his chances.”
Ajit Agarkar
Ajinkya Rahane backs Shreyas Iyer to remain part of India’s T20 setup
In the near future, Rahane thinks Shreyas Iyer will return to the T20 team. The 37-year-old hopes that Shreyas and the selectors have been in clear communication over their intentions to include him in T20 cricket.
“The only thing I want to see and I want to know is that a proper communication from selectors and team management with Shreyas. He’s an important member of the team and I’m sure in the coming years or in the future he’s going to be part of the T20 format as well. So communication is the key from the selectors to Shreyas Iyer.”
Ajinkya Rahane
Shreyas Iyer had a standout IPL 2025 season with Punjab Kings. Moreover, he scored 604 runs at an average of 50.33 and a strike rate of 175.07. As a result, he played a key role in leading the side to the final, showcasing both consistency and impact throughout the tournament.
