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The sound surrounding Shreyas Iyer’s exclusion from India’s Test squad is only getting louder. Despite a strong run of form in domestic and IPL, the Indian selectors and new head coach Gautam Gambhir have seemingly chosen to look the other way — a move that hasn’t gone down well with many in the cricketing fraternity.
Former India wicketkeeper Surinder Khanna joined the growing list of voices questioning the decision. “Shreyas should have been in the Test team,” Khanna said. “When a player is in form, especially someone like Shreyas, he deserves to be there. It’s very disturbing — even more so because the chief selector (Ajit Agarkar) comes from the same state.”
Iyer’s exclusion, despite consistent performances both at domestic and international cricket and a reputation as a big-match player, is fuelling speculation of internal biases and missed opportunities. With fans and experts rallying in his support, the pressure is clearly mounting on the selectors to justify their call — and on Shreyas to keep letting the bat do the talking.
“Shreyas has been one of the most consistent batters in domestic cricket,” Khanna said. “Last year he led KKR to the IPL title, and this year too, he has done well. He’s led from the front, both as a batter and a captain.”
Khanna then said that the selectors should strike when the iron is hot. “Shreyas isn’t getting younger. He’s in his prime and should be given due diligence,” he remarked, while cheekily celebrating what he called his “19th birthday.”
Behind the light-hearted jab was a serious message — that India can’t afford to overlook players who are peaking right now. Khanna joins a growing list of former players and fans who believe Iyer’s form, experience, and temperament make him an essential pick in the red-ball setup. “Playing majestic innings against IPL’s finest bowling attack is quite creditable. Even his Champions Trophy form was too good, so why not bring him into Test cricket?” Khanna added.
