Despite n-number of qualities, here is Shreyas Iyer, not only missing from the squad but also omitted from the reserves.A Rage Room is a private space where aggrieved individuals can express their frustrations in a liberatingly physical manner. Draped in protective equipment, they are presented with a curated line-up of breakable items – glass bottles, old television sets, ceramics – that they can smash to smithereens to let off steam. Had Shreyas Iyer sought out a Rage Room on Tuesday, he would have been perfectly entitled to do so.
Shreyas Iyer had good cause to believe he’d be back in India’s Twenty20 plans when the national selectors met in Mumbai to pick the 15-member squad for the Asia Cup, in the desert sands of the Emirates next month. With six months to India’s defence of the World Cup grabbed spectacularly in Bridgetown in June last year, the process of fine-tuning preparations for the big bash begins with the continental showdown.
Shreyas Iyer must have felt the volume of work he had put in, especially during IPL 2025, was sufficient for him to return to the T20I scheme of things for the first time since December 2023 (when he played the last of his 51 games), but Ajit Agarkar and his fellow wise men deigned otherwise.
Shreyas Iyer has been the silent guardian and the watchful protector of the Indian ODI team in the past two years. However, India’s own commissioner, Gordon in Ajit Agarkar, feels that he isn’t the hero the T20I team needs right now. Shreyas Iyer’s performances have often gone under the radar as he’s silently done his job under the shadows of the big stalwarts.
A world-record 530 runs batting at number 4 during the ODI World Cup 2023 and a well-compiled 243 runs in the victorious Champions Trophy 2025 campaign – the highest in the team—have all raised Shreyas Iyer’s stocks as a true match-winner.
Shreyas Iyer’s unprecedented T20 peak
Moreover, having led his teams to successive IPL finals – KKR in 2024 and Punjab Kings (PBKS) in 2025 – Shreyas Iyer has also proven his worth as a leader. The PBKS skipper truly led his team from the front in 2025, scoring 604 runs from 17 innings at an average of 50.33 with six fifties.
However, Shreyas Iyer’s impact on the team was beyond numbers, as he left a golden chance to complete his maiden IPL century in the first match itself by deciding not to farm the strike and let Shashank Singh finish the innings with a flurry of boundaries. The selfless act sent the right message across the team as the leader was ready to sacrifice his personal milestones in pursuit of the team’s goal.
In the knockouts, Punjab faced the Herculean task of chasing 204 against the best bowling attack of the tournament, but Iyer took it upon himself to take them over the line as he even took on the beast named ‘Jasprit Bumrah’ to seal the deal for his side.
There were numerous compelling reasons for Shreyas’ inclusion: 604 delightful runs while leading Punjab Kings to the final in this year’s IPL, at an average of 50.33 and a fabulous strike-rate of 175.07, easily the best among the ten highest run-getters (Shreyas sat at No. 6). His experience and expertise against the turning ball on the same surfaces where his middle-order composure and nous were pivotal to India’s success in the 50-over Champions Trophy in February-March.
His recent emergence as an accomplished player of the short ball, which had troubled him no end until a year and a bit back. His ability to take the fight to the bowlers from the off, a character trait T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir are strong advocates of. His tactical awareness and leadership bucket that Suryakumar could have dipped into in a tight corner.
His electric agility and excellent fielding, anywhere on the park. And yet, here is Shreyas Iyer, not only missing from the 15-man party but also omitted from the reserves. Seeing the unrest amongsts the fans and experts regarding exclusion of Shreyas Iyer from the Asia Cup 2025 squad Former Indian cricketer now commentator Parthiv Patel believes that Shreyas Iyer deserved to be a part of the Indian squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025.
Parthiv Patel makes a shocking statement on Shreyas Iyer’s omission from Asia Cup 2025
Former Indian cricketer Parthiv Patel has said that although there have been a lot of questions surrounding Shreyas Iyer’s exclusion from India’s Asia Cup squad, one cricketer had to be unlucky and it was the latter this time, adding that he would have to wait for his opportunity. Shreyas Iyer was among the notable absentees from India’s 15-member team for the Asia Cup. The debate arose over his exclusion due to his brilliant form in the recent domestic season as well as in the IPL.
What drew more flak was Iyer’s absence from even the reserve players’ list, with chief selector Ajit Agarkar saying that it wasn’t his fault that he didn’t find a place.
“The criticism is bound to happen whenever an Indian team is selected. Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh were selected, both left-handed batters. So, the question arises, why didn’t Shreyas Iyer find a place,” Parthiv questioned while speaking on his YouTube video.
“But in my opinion, I feel that someone had to be unlucky,” Parthiv said.
The former Indian cricketer suggested that Iyer needed to be patient and wait for his chance.
“When you are playing cricket, you want the luck to favour you at times, as it makes a big difference. I feel Shreyas Iyer needs to do just one thing: he just has to wait and have some patience,” Parthiv said.
Shreyas Iyer was the highest run-scorer for the Punjab Kings, amassing 604 runs across 17 matches at a strike rate of 175. Meanwhile, left out of the Test scheme of things as well as the upcoming Asia Cup T20Is, Iyer was on Saturday, August 6, entrusted with leading the India A side in the two unofficial four-day matches against Australia A in Lucknow.
Right-handed batter Shreyas Iyer will be leading India A in the upcoming two multi-day matches against Australia A, the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Saturday. The Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain in the Indian Premier League (IPL) was recently left out of the Asia Cup squad, but the selectors have now rewarded him with a leadership role. This development comes amid the ongoing reports of Shreyas possibly taking over from Rohit Sharma as the next ODI captain.
Shreyas Iyer has also been out of the Indian Test team since 2024. His leading India A in the upcoming two games against Australia A will augur well for his chances in the upcoming home series against the West Indies and South Africa. If Shreyas Iyer goes on to perform well in the India A games, then he might well be named in the Test squad, as Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair failed to grab their chances in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England.
Shreyas Iyer, not picked even among the reserves for the Asia Cup starting Tuesday, is turning out for West Zone in the Duleep Trophy semifinal against Central Zone in Bengaluru.The series between India A and Australia A will begin on September 16. The second unofficial Test will be played from September 23. Both matches will be played in Lucknow. Both teams will also face each other in three ODIs. However, the squad for these games is yet to be announced.
The Men in Blue will kick off their Asia Cup campaign against the UAE on September 10, while the high-voltage game against arch-rivals Pakistan is scheduled for September 14, with both fixtures set to be played in Dubai. Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav and Co. will play their final group stage fixture against Oman on September 19 in Abu Dhabi.
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