Despite his impressive run on the domestic circuit and India’s ODI set-up this year, Mumbai batter Shreyas Iyer would not have made the Test squad in England in any scenario, said former India opener Aakash Chopra.
There were questions raised over Iyer’s exclusion from India’s extensive 18-member squad announced in May, and the situation sparked more questions about the 30-year-old’s red-ball future at the international level. Iyer was in blistering form in the IPL, leading Punjab Kings to a runners-up finish with his best season with the bat, scoring 604 runs at a 50-plus average and a staggering 175.07 strike rate with 39 sixes. Iyer also had a productive Ranji Trophy season besides leading Mumbai to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy win in December 2024.
In nine First Class matches, including an Irani Cup triumph, Iyer aggregated 699 runs with two centuries and three fifties. However, that would not be enough to make a comeback to the Test squad for Iyer, who last represented India during the 2024 home series against England. Chopra noted how even Iyer’s Mumbai teammate Sarfaraz Khan who is ahead in the pecking order missed out on a berth in England, insisting that the former must patiently wait for his second wind.
‘No problem with India’s batting’
Save for the returning Karun Nair, debutant Sai Sudharsan and a wobbly lower-order, India’s front-line batters all came to the fore during the Headingley Test. Vice-captain Rishabh Pant (2), KL Rahul, skipper Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal all struck centuries, making it the first time India tallied five centuries in a Test.
“There is no problem with the batting as such. But he has to wait for his chances; he won’t get a chance straightaway right now. He would’ve never made it to the squad for the England tour. The remaining ones also haven’t had their chance,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
“If you think about it, Karun Nair has played just now. Sarfaraz Khan is not being given the chances. Dhruv Jurel is sitting outside. The players who are already there, if they aren’t only getting the chances, then how can Shreyas Iyer get a look in?” he added.
“I know he had a good first-class season. He had a good IPL, took Punjab Kings to the final. He did well in white-ball cricket, but his time will come. He will have to wait just a little bit,” said Chopra.
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Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar had reasoned that there was no room currently for Iyer in the scheme of things despite his solid form at the domestic level.
“Yes, Shreyas Iyer has played well in domestic cricket, but at the moment, there is no room for him on the Test Team,” he said while speaking to reporters in Mumbai when announcing the Test squad in late May.
