Four trophies in 15 months. Runs across formats. And still, no Test call-up for Shreyas Iyer. Cricket fans, including me, are disappointed.
The batter has done just about everything a player can do to earn a place in the Indian Test squad — and yet, he wasn’t picked for the upcoming series against England. His exclusion isn’t just baffling; it’s an injustice to both performance and meritocracy.
Since early 2024, Iyer has lifted four major trophies — including the IPL 2024 title with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Irani Cup, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and the Champions Trophy.
He has been a constant scorer in white-ball cricket too— he was India’s second-highest run-scorer in the 2023 World Cup, and played crucial knocks in the CT 2025, scoring half-centuries against Pakistan and New Zealand, and crucial 40s against Australia and New Zealand in the knockout stages.
All this, after he was dropped from the BCCI’s central contract list in 2023. But, Iyer returned to domestic cricket, worked his way up the hard way through the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy, and earned his central contract back.
And yet, the BCCI’s 18-member Test squad for the England series has no place for him.
While Arshdeep Singh and B Sai Sudharsan have earned their maiden call-ups, Karun Nair, who last played a Test in 2017, has been recalled too. But how does Shreyas Iyer, with proven leadership and consistent performances, not even make the reserves?
It’s a question that fans, and rightly so, are struggling to digest.
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Red-ball cricket performance
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar said that Iyer needs to prove himself more in red-ball domestic cricket.
In the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy, Iyer scored 480 runs in just 7 innings, averaging 68.57.
He also played a crucial role in guiding Mumbai to their Ranji Trophy victory in the 2023-24 season, contributing significantly throughout the tournament, including in the final against Vidarbha. He scored a valuable 95 in the second innings.
When a player scores heavily, shows leadership across formats, wins trophies, and still doesn’t get a nod, you have to wonder — what exactly is the selection criteria?
Although he was left out of the squad, Iyer remained laser-focused on his current goal — guiding Punjab Kings to the IPL 2025 playoffs, a feat the team hadn’t achieved since 2014.
In 14 matches, he delivered with the bat as well, amassing 514 runs at an impressive average of 51.40, including five half-centuries.
Now, his sights are firmly set on bringing home the title for Punjab Kings.
The fact is that Iyer is in form and the BCCI should have capitalised on it, because the batter’s aggressive approach would’ve helped India put pressure on England. Also, the chances of an in-form cricketer scoring well are always higher.
Additionally, his track record over the last two years showcases a hunger to prove his worth. And, the England tour would have been the greatest test of all time for him.
At a time when Indian cricket is supposedly transitioning into a younger phase post the Test retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, wouldn’t someone like Iyer — just 30, experienced, but still in his prime — be an ideal bridge between the old and the new?
Instead, it feels like the management is choosing to turn a blind eye to performances that are right in front of them. Ignoring domestic red-ball stats, undervaluing multi-format consistency, and dismissing proven temperament under pressure — is just a poor selection, and the BCCI might regret it.
Views are personal.
(Edited by Ratan Priya)