There have been notions that the India National Cricket Team head coach Gautam Gambhir doesn’t like Shreyas Iyer and that he has been struggling to return to the setup despite his brilliant and consistent performances in domestic cricket across the formats.
Even though there were reports that Gautam Gambhir didn’t want Shreyas Iyer in the squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, it was the chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, who forced the coach and the selectors to pick the Mumbaiker.
Senior selector blocks Shreyas Iyer’s ODI captaincy hopes!!
Later, Iyer played a key role in India’s title triumph in the UAE. After the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the right-handed batter scored over 600 runs in the IPL 2025 while leading Punjab Kings (PBKS) to the final, but he still failed to make it to the Test squad for the England tour.
However, some players were selected based on their performance in the IPL 2025. And last month, Iyer was yet again ignored for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, starting on September 9 in the UAE.
He was not even named in the reserves, leading to massive outrage among the fans and cricket experts. And many blamed Gautam Gambhir for the middle-order batter’s continuous snub.
Senior selector, not Gautam Gambhir, behind Shreyas Iyer’s Asia Cup 2025 omission
However, it has now emerged that it was not Gambhir, but a senior selector who is the villain behind Iyer’s omission from India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad.
A Jagran News journalist claimed that “a senior selector” opposed Iyer’s selection because of a “personal grudge”, and that’s why he was not picked for the tournament.
He also revealed that Shreyas Iyer has been a strong contender for India’s ODI captaincy after Rohit Sharma’s retirement, but that a selector is not in his favor due to “old rivalry”. Additionally, the rise of Shubman Gill is also affecting Iyer’s chances of becoming India’s ODI captain.
Amidst all this drama, Iyer was named India A captain for the upcoming two unofficial Test games against Australia A at home to silence the outrage and criticism on social media. However, some reports suggest that Iyer might be recalled to the Indian team for the West Indies Tests.
Shreyas Iyer stresses hard work and preparation after facing setbacks
Recently, the Indian batter admitted that it is really frustrating for him not to get the chance despite doing everything. He had said on the iQOO podcast, “It is only frustrating when you know that you deserve to be in the team, in the playing XI. That time, it is frustrating.”
He has also described “winning the ICC Champions Trophy for India” as the “best feeling ever.” Meanwhile, Iyer emphasized that thorough preparation is crucial for every cricketer, as it helps minimize mistakes over time, and it is the only way to perform at their best on the field.
The Mumbaiker signed off by saying, “As we keep saying, you have to trust your preparations. When you prepare yourself in a certain manner, whatever happens on the field is just a reflection of what you do off the field. If your prep is good and if you don’t perform in one or two games, in the third game, you are definitely going to perform. That I have experienced.”