One of the most talked-about omissions from the Test squad was Shreyas Iyer, who had been widely tipped for a comeback following Virat Kohli’s unexpected retirement.
India’s Test Transition Begins Without Shreyas Iyer
With Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin retiring from Test cricket following the Australia tour, India is officially entering a new era as they prepare for the England series starting late June. Shubman Gill has been named captain, with Rishabh Pant as vice-captain, marking a significant shift in leadership. The squad also includes a surprise return for Karun Nair after nine years.
However, the exclusion of Shreyas Iyer raised eyebrows. Despite a strong Ranji Trophy season—scoring 480 runs in five matches at an average of 68.57—and a standout Champions Trophy campaign where he overcame his short-ball weakness and finished as India’s top scorer, Iyer was overlooked. He further strengthened his case with a stellar IPL 2025, leading Punjab Kings to the top of the table.
What had Ajit Agarkar said about Iyer’s exclusion?
While Gautam Gambhir declined to comment on Shreyas Iyer’s exclusion from the Test squad, BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar had addressed the matter during the squad announcement in Mumbai last week. “Shreyas had a good one-day series, played well in domestic as well, but right now there is no room in Test cricket,” he said.
Iyer, who last played a Test in January 2024, was dropped midway through the home series against England. Initial reports cited an injury concern, but controversy followed when he skipped Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy matches despite the BCCI’s directive on mandatory domestic participation. Though Iyer returned for the final two games, the board had already taken disciplinary action—excluding him from the central contract list, which may have factored into his continued absence from the Test setup.
