Shreyas Iyer’s omission from the Asia Cup squad left many baffled. Iyer has been in terrific form of late and was India’s highest run scorer in the ICC Champions Trophy.
He also had a brilliant run in the IPL, scoring over 600 runs and taking the Punjab Kings to the final. All were expecting return to the team for the Asia Cup, but the selectors opted for Shubman Gill, who was also named the vice captain of the side.
Iyer has now spoken on his snub and said that it is frustrating when you know you deserve to be in the playing XI, but can’t make the squad. He, however, said that when someone else is performing well for the team, he needs to support him as the eventual goal is to make the team win.
“It is only frustrating when you know that you deserve to be in the team, in the playing XI. At that time, it is frustrating. But at the same time, when you know that someone is performing and playing consistently for the team and bringing their best, you support them. And eventually, the goal is for the team to win. When the team is winning, everyone is happy,” Iyer said on Speaking on a podcast on IQOO India’s YouTube Channel.
Iyer has been out of T20 team for a while, playing his last game in December 2023, but he has been very consistent in the format, knocking on the door of an India comeback for quite some time. Since the T20 World Cup 2024, the Mumbai batter has played 26 T20 matches, scoring 949 runs at an average of 49.94 and at a strike rate of 179.73, including a century and seven fifties.
Can Iyer Make T20 World Cup Squad?
India have plenty of T20Is left before the T20 World Cup, and there are many players in the Asia Cup squad who are sitting on knife edge. If Iyer keeps performing, he should get a chance in the T20 team in series before the World Cup which could pave the way for his selection in T20 World Cup squad.