When India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad was announced on August 19, there was a lot of surprise. The reason behind this is that Shreyas Iyer not only dropped out of the 15-member team but also did not get selected even in the standby five. This was not seen coming, as Iyer had just emerged from extremely good performances in the Champions Trophy, where he was the highest run scorer, and also in the IPL 2025, where he scored over 600 runs and led his team to the final. The exclusion soon became toa hot topic of discussion among fans and former players alike.
Agarkar Explains the Call
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar attempts to justify to pacify the criticism. He quoted:
“It’s unfortunate that Shreyas Iyer misses out. It’s no fault of his, nor ours. He has to wait for his chance.”
“Sometimes not the easiest squad to pick, but good headache to have.”
In his opinion, there are not that many spaces and a lot of great choices. That leaves making the hard choices required. Agarkar further observes that the batting order is enormous in its competition, and Iyer did not quite make the cut this season.
Prioritize Form and Emerging Leaders
The selections this year clearly indicate that recent form mattered more. Shubman Gill, who performed well during the England series 2025, was entrusted with a significant duty as vice-captain. Agarkar appreciated Gill’s performance and stability, stating it instils faith to select him for such a position.
Blame by Ex-Cricketers
But several ex-cricketers do not share any such excuse.
- Robin Uthappa referred to the exclusion as “baffling,” since Iyer performed exceptionally well in the ICC and IPL alike.
- Aakash Chopra questions the reason why Iyer was not even listed on standby, which he mentioned raises doubts over impartiality.
- Ravichandran Ashwin was also taken aback, particularly that both Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal are absent.
- Abhishek Naya, on the TV panel, makes hints that there was favoritism, pointing out that names such as Harshit Rana and Rinku Singh, who are favorites with coach Gautam Gambhir, were selected over Iyer.
On socialmediaa the response was fierce; a majority of the fans wrote it is a “shame” given the form and leadership quality of Iyer.
Where Iyer Stands Now
Iyer’s statistics already demonstrate his worth. He has over 1,100 T20I runs and best performances in IPL and Champions Trophy. He is viewed not just as a batsman but also as one who can captain in the future. But selectors currently are opting for players who are more attuned to form, such as Gill, who is rewarded with vice-captaincy.
Conclusion
From Agarkar’s statement, it seems evident that Iyer’s exclusion is not because of dislike, but for balance and space constraints in the team. Nevertheless, the decision makes individuals wonder about fairness and the long-term vision of picking. For now, Iyer has to wait, as Agarkar himself stated, for his next opportunity, perhaps in the 2026 T20 World Cup. Until then, the controversy of this decision won’t cease.
