Former India opener Aakash Chopra believes Shreyas Iyer must wait for his opportunity in Test cricket, despite a strong first-class season.
Aakash Chopra Explains Why Shreyas Iyer Missed Out on England Test Squad
Former India batter Aakash Chopra believes there was little to no chance of Shreyas Iyer being included in the Test squad for the ongoing series against England, largely due to intense competition for middle-order spots. When the five-Test squad was announced, many fans directed criticism at head coach Gautam Gambhir and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar for overlooking Iyer, who had impressed in Mumbai’s first-class season and led Punjab Kings to the IPL 2025 final.
Despite these credentials, Iyer has remained on the sidelines. He last played a Test during the 2024 England series but was dropped midway and instructed to participate in the Ranji Trophy—an opportunity he did not take, which reportedly led to his exclusion from the BCCI’s central contracts list. Though recent white-ball performances earned him a return to the contracts list, a Test comeback still remains elusive.
Chopra argued that with several other deserving players also waiting in the wings, Iyer’s exclusion is understandable. “There is no problem with the batting as such. But he has to wait for his chances; he wouldn’t have made it to the England tour. Others haven’t got their chances yet either,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
He further pointed out, “Karun Nair has just played, Sarfaraz Khan hasn’t been given opportunities, and Dhruv Jurel is still on the bench. If those already in the squad aren’t getting chances, how can Shreyas Iyer be included?”
‘Shreyas needs to wait’
Aakash Chopra acknowledged Shreyas Iyer’s strong performances in domestic and white-ball cricket but maintained that the right-hander would need to bide his time for a Test recall. “I know he had a good first-class season. He had a good IPL, took Punjab Kings to the final. He did well in white-ball cricket, but his time will come. He will have to wait just a little bit,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
When India’s Test squad for the England series was announced, many were surprised by Iyer’s omission. However, chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar made it clear that despite Shreyas Iyer recent form, there was no place for him in the 18-member squad. “Yes, Shreyas Iyer has played well in domestic cricket, but at the moment, there is no room for him on the Test team,” Agarkar told reporters in Mumbai.
The 30-year-old Iyer has played 14 Tests for India, scoring 811 runs at an average of 36.81, including one century and five fifties. While his numbers are respectable, intense competition in the middle order and his previous absence from the Ranji Trophy have affected his standing in the red-ball setup. For now, he remains on the waiting list as others like Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, and Karun Nair continue to jostle for limited opportunities.
