Why Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel left Shreyas Iyer out of India’s squad for Asia Cup

Shreyas Iyer’s omission from India’s Asia Cup squad surprised many. Given his strong performance with the bat in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) and leadership of the Punjab Kings, his selection seemed almost certain.

But when the time came, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) didn’t do so. Not just that, he wasn’t even included in the reserve’s lists. In the aftermath, reports came out that India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, didn’t want him in the team.

Some even said the current chairman of the selection committee, Ajit Agarkar, didn’t like him during his 2017 to 2019 stint as Mumbai’s selector, and that’s why Shreyas has been ignored.

Why Shreyas Iyer was left out of Asia Cup

However, former India selector Devang Gandhi has dispelled such claims. He thinks Agarkar and co. didn’t have any issues with Shreyas or his performance. But one mustn’t forget that Shreyas hasn’t played T20Is for India since December 2023. He wasn’t in the scheme of things, and those who have can’t be removed without a proper reason.

Since Suryakumar Yadav and Gambhir took over in July, Tilak Varma has scored two hundreds and one fifty in 9 matches. Shivam Dube and Axar Patel are all-rounders, which gives them a natural edge. Jitesh Sharma’s a wicketkeeper, while Rinku Singh’s a finisher. Realistically, there’s no spot.

“Regarding Shreyas Iyer—he wasn’t part of the 2024 World Cup either. He has been consistent in the IPL, but the question is: in whose place will he come in? Tilak has runs in South Africa, Surya has done well, Hardik and Shivam Dube are in the middle order, followed by the keeper and Axar Patel. Right now, Shreyas will have to wait, but he is extremely talented and improving,” Devang told Times of India.

India squad for Asia Cup

Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana

Standbys: Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Yashasvi Jaiswal.

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