Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has voiced his frustration over the national selectors’ decision to pick Sai Sudharsan over Shreyas Iyer for the upcoming five-match Test series against England. The BCCI announced the 18-member Test squad on May 24, sparking debates over selection criteria, particularly in the case of Iyer’s omission.
Kaif didn’t hold back in questioning the logic of selecting Sudharsan primarily on the back of his strong IPL 2025 performance, which has seen him amass 679 runs so far.
While acknowledging Sudharsan’s talent, Kaif stressed that his selection for a red-ball format purely on white-ball performance raised eyebrows. What irked him more was the complete disregard for Iyer’s consistent contributions across formats in recent years.
WATCH – “He Keeps Annoying Me!” – Virat Kohli’s Hilarious Take on Young RCB Teammate’s Fanboy Moment
“Sudharsan is undoubtedly a quality player, but he’s earned a Test call-up based on T20 form. Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer has delivered time and again,” Mohammad Kaif said on his YouTube channel. “He scored 530 runs during the 2023 ODI World Cup, added 243 in the Champions Trophy, and is still performing well—over 500 runs for Punjab Kings this IPL. Plus, he’s been leading the team with great tactical awareness. So how can you apply one standard to Sudharsan and a different one to Iyer?”
Iyer’s last Test appearance came during the previous England tour of India, where he was dropped after just two matches and hasn’t been recalled since. Despite that setback, Iyer remained committed at the domestic level, scoring 480 runs in seven innings during the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy for Mumbai.
ALSO READ: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli may have felt they can’t drive Tests as before, says Shardul Thakur
While the Test squad includes names like Karun Nair and Abhimanyu Easwaran, Iyer’s absence stands out. Currently leading Punjab Kings in the IPL, Iyer has not only contributed heavily with the bat but also guided his team into the playoffs, reinforcing his all-round value and leadership credentials.
