Former Australian wicketkeeper-batter Brad Haddin has responded strongly to Sunil Gavaskar’s criticism after the legendary Indian cricketer slammed overseas commentators for questioning India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad selection. The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee raised eyebrows by leaving out star batter Shreyas Iyer and explosive opener Yashasvi Jaiswal from India’s 15-member squad for the high-profile tournament starting September 9 in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Several former players and cricket experts voiced surprise at the exclusions, prompting Sunil Gavaskar’s fiery response. In his Sportstar column last week, Gavaskar lashed out at foreign voices commenting on India’s selection decisions.

“What is baffling is foreigners who have zero stake in Indian cricket, and much less knowledge about it, wading into the debate and adding fuel to the fire. However great they may be as players and however many times they may have been to India, the selection of the Indian team is strictly none of their business,” Sunil Gavaskar wrote.

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Brad Haddin, currently part of the Punjab Kings coaching staff, didn’t hold back in his reply. Speaking on the LiSTNR YouTube channel, the former Australian vice-captain quipped, “I am glad he (Sunil Gavaskar) is listening to the show. We are going worldwide.”

He defended his remarks on Iyer’s omission, emphasizing that his role as a commentator is to analyze cricket stories globally.
“Our job is to give an opinion on what’s topical in world cricket. That’s what we do,” Brad Haddin said. “We coached him (Iyer) in the IPL, and I stand by my take. I was shocked he wasn’t in the squad. I’m not saying others shouldn’t be there, but he’s been a great leader and performer under pressure. It’s surprising to see him sidelined.”

Iyer’s exclusion has been a hot topic given his outstanding IPL 2025 campaign with Punjab Kings, where he scored 604 runs in 17 matches after being bought for ₹26.75 crore at the mega auction.

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Despite his stellar form, selectors opted for different combinations for the Asia Cup, sparking debate on India’s squad strategy ahead of the eight-team event. This exchange between Gavaskar and Haddin adds another layer to the ongoing discussion on India’s team selections, highlighting how the cricket world remains deeply invested in India’s choices.