Hold onto your seats, cricket fans—Shreyas Iyer, India’s flamboyant middle-order maestro, will be missing from the 2025 Asia Cup squad. Yes, you read that right. After a sensational IPL 2025 season where Iyer was a run-machine, amassing 604 runs in 17 innings at a striking average of 50.33 and a blistering strike rate of 175.07, his omission still raises eyebrows. So, what’s going on here? Why would India leave out a player who seems to be firing on all cylinders? Let’s break it down.
Form vs Selection: The Puzzle of Iyer’s Omission
At first glance, leaving Iyer out seems a bit silly. In the IPL, he made six fifties, ran games like a seasoned veteran, and showed he could perform against world-renowned bowlers. His T20I record also shows he is not a stranger to international success — 51 T20Is, 1,104 runs, and eight fifties. So, what gives?
A broader examination reveals that selection in Indian cricket is often less dependent on the current form of the players. That squad has a lot of big-hitting power players like Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, and Abhishek Sharma. With Suryakumar Yadav leading and Shubham Gill as vice-captain, management appears to be leaning towards an element of experience and recent international currency, with some of the guys like Iyer, who may still be living off of IPL performances and have not played in the national T20 setup since 2023.
The Middle-Order Conundrum: Space Is Tight
Another factor working against Iyer is the fierce competition in India’s middle order. Let’s be honest—the middle-order spots are no picnic. With heavyweights like Sanju Samson, Jitesh Sharma, Rinku Singh, and Hardik Pandya already locked in, squeezing in another batter feels like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. While Iyer’s aggressive style is appealing, Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill already provide dynamic options at the top and middle, reducing the perceived need for another similar profile.
Add to that the squad’s need for versatility: bowlers who can bat, finishers who can bowl a bit, and wicketkeeper-batters who can step in anywhere. Iyer is a specialist batter—brilliant, yes, but in a squad built for balance across 15 players, sometimes being a one-dimensional star just isn’t enough.
Waiting in the Wings: What This Means for Iyer
It is important to point out that Iyer was not even on the five-player standby list, which makes this non-selection even more conspicuous. To quote Chief selector Ajit Agarkar politely and enigmatically: “Unfortunately, Shreyas Iyer misses out. It’s no fault of his, but neither ours. He has to wait for his chance.”
You might be wondering, what does it mean to “wait for his chance”? My guess is selectors are keeping an eye on the Asia Cup performances, injuries, or possible rotation plans in future T20Is and World Cups. Iyer’s days with India aren’t done for good – he is still key in India’s white-ball future. For now, it’s a case of waiting, but if he keeps lighting up the IPL and performing well in domestic or limited-overs cricket, the chance will come around again.
FAQs
- Is Shreyas Iyer on India’s Asia Cup stand-by list?
No, he was also excluded from the five-player stand-by list.
- What is Shreyas Iyer’s T20I record?
In 51 T20Is, he has scored 1,104 runs at an average of 30.66 and a strike rate of 136.12.
- Could Shreyas Iyer’s recent performances have influenced the selectors’ decision?
No, it was not about form but rather team composition and strategic considerations.
