Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has openly questioned the selectors’ call to exclude Shreyas Iyer from not just the Asia Cup 2025 squad but even the standby list. According to Nayar, the omission sends a strong message that Iyer may not be in the current T20I scheme of things, despite his consistent run as a top-order batter.
The announcement of India’s Asia Cup squad on Tuesday created plenty of discussion. While Shubman Gill was officially named T20 vice-captain and Jasprit Bumrah returned to strengthen the bowling attack, Iyer’s absence stood out. The right-hander was once tipped to be India’s long-term No. 3 in T20Is, especially after scoring 604 runs in IPL 2025 at an impressive average of 50.33. Yet, the selectors opted for younger names like Riyan Parag and Tilak Varma, leaving Iyer out in the cold.
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Speaking on Star Sports, Abhishek Nayar expressed his surprise: “I wanted to ask Agarkar how Iyer is not even among the reserves if he’s such a strong contender. Sometimes the dynamics of selection go beyond performances, and this one is hard to understand.”
‘Maybe Shreyas Iyer Is Not As Liked As…’: Abhishek Nayar Makes Bold Statement Over Indian Batter’s Exclusion From Asia Cup 2025 Squad; Video#AsiaCup #ShreyasIyer #shubmangill #ajitagarkar #SuryakumarYadav #Abhisheknayar https://t.co/kVRElxV4GP
— Free Press Journal (@fpjindia) August 19, 2025
Nayar added that the decision seems to hint at favoritism within the setup: “Selection often comes down to who is liked more. Maybe Shreyas Iyer doesn’t have that edge compared to others, and that’s why he’s been snubbed.”
The snub becomes more striking considering Iyer’s international numbers. In 47 T20Is, he has scored 1104 runs at an average of 30.66 and a strike rate of 136.12. His last appearance in the format came against Australia in December 2023 at Bengaluru, where he struck a fluent 53 off 37 balls at No. 3. Despite that, Tilak Varma later replaced him during the South Africa tour.
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India will defend their Asia Cup title in the UAE, with the tournament also serving as an early preparation phase for the 2026 T20 World Cup at home. While the focus shifts towards Gill’s elevation as vice-captain, the exclusion of Iyer remains one of the most debated calls ahead of the continental championship.
