The Asia Cup 2025 is the 17th edition of the men’s Asia Cup cricket tournament. It is scheduled to be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from September 9 to September 28, 2025. The exclusion of Shreyas Iyer from India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad has sparked significant reactions, debate and disappointment among cricket experts, former players, fans:
Cricketers were surprised
- Abhishek Nayar: Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar expressed disbelief about Iyer’s omission, saying he “cannot fathom” the decision and questioned why Iyer was not even included in the 20-member provisional squad. Nayar indicated this sends a message that Iyer is not currently in the selectors’ plans for T20 cricket, despite his strong performances in the IPL and domestic cricket.
- Ajit Agarkar: India chief selector Ajit Agarkar explained that Iyer’s omission was not due to any fault of his own but rather due to a highly competitive batting lineup. Agarkar asked, “Who will you replace?” implying that the current combination already had established players in the top batting spots, such as Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, and Tilak Varma. Agarkar highlighted that Iyer will have to wait for his chance.
- Irfan Pathan: Pathan said on his YouTube channel and social media that if he were in Iyer’s place, he would feel very upset, especially since Iyer was not even included as a standby or substitute. He highlighted Shreyas’s excellent performance as Punjab Kings captain in IPL 2025, scoring 604 runs at a strike rate of 175.07, which made his omission puzzling. Pathan also emphasized that he sees a bright future for Iyer, not only as a key player but also as part of the leadership group in India’s T20 side, urging him to remain patient.
- Ravichandran Ashwin: Ravichandran Ashwin criticized the selection committee’s decision on social media, questioning openly how such a player with Iyer’s credentials was omitted from the squad.
In summary, the reactions mainly revolve around surprise and disappointment over Iyer’s exclusion from the Asia Cup squad, with experts and former players highlighting his recent form and questioning the selectors’ decision. The selectors have defended their choice by pointing to the abundance of talent and balance in the current squad, indicating Iyer will get his chance in the future.
Also Read: Highest Run Scorers in T20 Asia Cup – Full List & Stats