Former Captain India and Main Voler Kris Sikkanth set out on the chairman of Senior National Selection Committee Ajit Agarkar on the exclusion of Shreyas Iyer from the Indian team for the Asia Cup 2025.
SRIKKANTH said he couldn’t understand the logic for Agarkar’s justification that Iyer had left the 15-member team for a continental tournament that starts on September 9 in SAE.
AGARKAR, In explaining the decisionHe emphasized the calls of the T20i selection from the huge talent pool. He asked a question on whose expenditure he could be included in the final 15.
“As for Shreyas, who can replace? No his fault, nor is it ours. At the moment you can only choose 15,” Agarkar said.
In particular, Iyer was not part of five -member reserves selected for the Asia Cup. Instead, India included the third Wicketkeeper in Dhruv Jurel among travel reserves, while Iyer was overlooked.
Srikkanth was in his criticism on his show on YouTube.
“In its current form, Shreyas Iyer is an automatic choice. Let’s be very clear. You have to look at recent matches; there is no point in assessing players according to the form a year ago. He scored 600 runs in IPL at 175.
“He was brilliant. Yet you left him. Now you confused him,” Sikkanth added.
“For a player who worked so well, you say,” Tell me who will be replaced on the side.
Read also: Shreyas Iyer knocks hard but the door T20i remain closed
The Iyer, who last played the T20i cricket for India in December 2023, enjoyed the Star Season IPL 2025. He led Kings Panjab and scored 604 runs in 175 matches, a significant shift of access with the team’s needs.
SRIKKANTH claimed that Iyer was to be preferred to players such as Rink Singh or Shivam Dube, and insisted that Iyer’s form of IPL was significantly better.
While Rink and Dude played the role of Finišer in India, their recent performances, especially in IPL 2025, were deep below their best.
“No logic at all”
Srikkanth also questioned the integration of Sanju Samson and pointed to his stunning return in IPL 2025 and a series of five T20i matches against England early this year. Samson managed only 285 runs in the IPL at a blow of 140.
“You can accommodate Shivam Dube, Rink Singh and Sanju Samson, but there is no place for Shreyas Iyer. What is this statement?
He also expressed a surprise in the exclusion of Yashasvi Jaiswal.
“You see Yashasvi Jaiswal performs in an international cricket, performs in IPL. What did you do wrong? How can you miss it?” he asked.
Jaiswal was part of the T20 World Cup team, where Shaubman Gill was just a reserve. Despite the fact that he continued his subtle form across formats and scoring 559 runs in a hit of almost 160 in the IPL, Jaiswal did not find a place in the Asia Cup Squad. Meanwhile, Gill returned to the T20i fold as a vice-capitan.
India will open its Asia Cup T20 campaign against the United Arab Emirates in Dubai 10 September.
India Squad for Asia Cup 2025
Surya Kumar Yadav (C), SHUBMAN GILL (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Ashdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep, Sanju Samson (WK) Rink Singh.
Reserves: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel.
– ends
Published:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
August 20, 2025
Tune
