Former India batter turned commentator Dinesh Karthik has questioned the exclusion of Mumbai cricketer Shreyas Iyer from Team India’s 2025 Asia Cup squad. The BCCI announced the 20-member squad (including five reserves) for the tournament on Tuesday, August 19, with Iyer failing to get a place in the team.

Reacting to Iyer’s snub, Karthik shared a video on Instagram on Thursday, August 21, saying, “Where is Shreyas Iyer? That’s the big question, isn’t it? How could he miss out? To a point, it’s understandable. He wasn’t part of the 15, considering how well team India have done. 17 out of the last 20 they have won so okay, continuity, fair. But not making him part of the other five players which you have earmarked for the near future with the T20 World Cup in mind?”

“Closing doors on him? That’s a tad bit unfair and I hope it doesn’t happen because he has done outstandingly well as a leader, but even better as a batter under pressure,” he further added.

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Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer’s father, Santosh Iyer, has expressed his frustration over his son’s exclusion from the 2025 Asia Cup team as well.

Speaking to The Times of India, he said: “I don’t know what else Shreyas has to do to make it to the T20 team. He has been performing so well in the IPL year after year, from Delhi Capitals to Kolkata Knight Riders to Punjab Kings, and that too as a captain. He even captained KKR to the IPL title in 2024, and led PBKS to the final this year. I’m not saying make him the Indian captain, but at least select him in the team.”

“However, let me tell you that even if he’s left out of the Indian team, he doesn’t show dissent on his face. He’ll just say: ‘Mera naseeb hai (it’s my luck)! You can’t do anything now.’ He’s always cool and calm. He doesn’t blame anybody. Deep inside, he must be naturally disappointed,” he further added.