Former India captain and ex-BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has openly expressed his surprise and disappointment at Shreyas Iyer’s exclusion from India’s Test squad for the upcoming England tour. Ganguly, who has closely followed Iyer’s career, strongly believes that Iyer’s recent performances across all formats warranted his selection, especially with senior players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma absent from the squad.
Ganguly’s Main Points
Outstanding Recent Form : Ganguly highlighted that Iyer has been “playing at his best in the last one year,” delivering strong performances under pressure and showing significant improvement, particularly against short-pitched bowling—previously considered his weakness.
Iyer’s domestic and IPL record over the past year is exceptional. He led Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL 2024 title, captained Punjab Kings to their first IPL final in 11 years in 2025, and scored 604 runs in IPL 2025 at a strike rate of 175, the highest among the top 10 run-scorers.
In first-class cricket, Iyer amassed 480 runs in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season for Mumbai at an average of 68.57, including two centuries.
Addressing Past Criticisms
Ganguly pointed out that Iyer has worked on his technique, especially against the short ball, and is now “scoring under pressure, taking responsibility, and playing the short ball well”.
He emphasized that Iyer’s exclusion is not justified by form or technical issues, stating, “He isn’t the player who got left out. He is now scoring under pressure, taking responsibility, playing the short ball well. Although Test cricket’s different, I would have had him in this series to see what he can do”.
Selection Committee’s Decision
Ganguly criticized the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee for not seriously considering Iyer, suggesting that the omission feels less about form and more about a lack of faith in the player.
He argued that with India fielding a young and relatively inexperienced middle order in England, a proven performer like Iyer could have provided valuable stability.
Summary
“He has been playing at his best in the last one year, and should have been in this team. Last one year has been fantastic for him. He isn’t the player who got left out. He is now scoring under pressure, taking responsibility, playing the short ball well. Although Test cricket’s different, I would have had him in this series to see what he can do.” — Sourav Ganguly.
Context: India’s Squad for England
- The Test series against England, starting June 20, 2025, will be India’s first without Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the squad, with Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant leading a young batting lineup.
- Iyer’s exclusion has sparked debate, especially given his recent record and the need for experience in the middle order.
In summary, Sourav Ganguly is surprised and critical of the decision to leave Shreyas Iyer out of the Test squad, citing Iyer’s sustained form, improved technique, and leadership qualities as compelling reasons for his inclusion.
