Shreyas Iyer, captain of the Punjab Kings (PBKS) surprised many by not being in the 15-member Indian team announces to participate in the 2025 Asia Cup. Such a move sounded a warning since Iyer had registered a great performance in the IPL in the previous two seasons. He had taken PBKS to the final of the IPL 2025 and was also the captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), under his captaincy, nothing the lifting of the IPL 2024.
The right-hander had a prolific IPL 2025 series, having racked up 604 runs in 17 games with a strike rate of 175.07 which saw him make six half-centuries.
In December 2023, Iyer faced Australia in his final Twenty20 International. In 51 Twenty20 Internationals, the 30-year-old has amassed 1,104 runs at a strike rate of 136.12, including eight half-centuries.
Shreyas Iyer’s exclusion from the India selection for the 2025 Asia Cup in Dubai shocked X fans. A user wrote:
“Would have selected him as VC tbh. Being Shreyas Iyer is not easy! What more could he do to get into the T20 side?.”
Another user commented:
“It’s India’s loss not to play Shreyas Iyer not his. Heartbreak for him again & again.”
A third user added:
“Can’t imagine a squad without Shreyas Iyer. How can he be dropped from the Asia Cup 2025 squad. He was a very deserving player to be picked.”
Here are a few more reactions:
FEEL FOR SHREYAS IYER. 💔
– He's not part of the main squad nor part of the Stand-by list for Asia Cup. pic.twitter.com/hpNXx11g0u
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 19, 2025Blud agreed to drop but refused to bow down. You have my respect, Shreyas Iyer. 🗿 pic.twitter.com/0vzyOcGzaZ
— Selfless⁴⁵ (@SelflessCricket) August 19, 2025They didn't select Shreyas Iyer because he could have been a lethal threat to the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill.
When you can't compete with him ,
Eliminate him.
Yet again politics won. pic.twitter.com/rUvz0FqK69
— PIXEL77 (@SaviourShrey96) August 19, 2025Ajit Agarkar breaks silence on IPL captain missing out from Asia Cup 2025 squad
Shreyas Iyer will have to wait for his opportunities, according to BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar, who also stated that he didn’t fit into the 15-man roster. According to Hindustan Times, he stated during the news conference:
“With regards to Shreyas, I mean, you need to tell him who he can replace. No fault of his, nor is it ours. It’s just that we have to pick 15 at the moment; he’ll have to wait for his chance.”
In addition to leading Mumbai to the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Iyer guided two different IPL clubs to consecutive finals. He has amassed 6,578 runs as a hitter in 240 Twenty20 matches, including three tons and forty-three half-centuries. The three-match ODI series in Australia later this year is probably when the right-handed hitter will be seen playing next.
