Shreyas Iyer has built a reputation as one of the most reliable batters of India in recent years. Known for his calm presence at the crease and ability to anchor or accelerate depending on the situation, he has also shown strong leadership qualities, guiding franchises successfully in the IPL. His omission from the Asia Cup 2025 squad has therefore surprised many and sparked debates around the selection process.
Former cricketer Subramaniam Badrinath openly criticised Ajit Agarkar led selection committee, questioning the reasoning behind leaving Shreyas Iyer out. Ajit Agarkar had described the batter as “unlucky”, explaining that no place could be found for him in the 15-member squad. Badrinath, however, felt that this was an easy excuse and suggested that personal preferences or a “likeability factor” might have influenced the call.
Shreyas Iyer had enjoyed a remarkable IPL 2025 season with Punjab Kings, leading the team to the final and scoring 604 runs at a strike rate above 175. Despite such numbers, the selectors chose Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh for the middle order.
Badrinath argued that both the players have failed to make a strong impact in the past year, while Shreyas Iyer has consistently delivered with the bat and could have easily adapted to the No. 5 role for India. With experienced players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma missing from the squad, he believed Shreyas Iyer’s maturity and leadership would have been crucial.
Echoing similar thoughts, former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar who worked with Shreyas Iyer during Kolkata Knight Riders’ title-winning campaign in 2024 also hinted that the batter may not enjoy the same level of acceptance within the team as others. Neither S. Badrinath nor Abhishek Nayar pointed to a specific player who might have benefited from his exclusion but they both felt Shreyas Iyer’s absence was unjustified.
The only other major change in the squad saw Shubman Gill replacing Yashasvi Jaiswal as the third opener while also being named vice-captain.
Is there a likeability factor behind Shreyas Iyer not getting selected in the Asia Cup 2025 squad? What do you think? Let us know your views.
