Former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has sent a strong message to the national selectors, suggesting that the absence of Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer from India’s T20 squad and leading the group is a loss for the team, not the players.
Iyer has was not part of India’s T20 side from December 2023 and was excluded from T20 World Cup winning teams in 2024 and 2026.
“If a player like Shreyas Iyer is still not in the scheme of things (T20 side) or leading the group, then it is not his loss but our (India’s) loss,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
Ashwin’s strong support for Iyer’s T20I comeback comes after Punjab Kings’ dominant win over Mumbai Indians on Thursday, where Iyer scored a match-defining 66 off just 35 balls.
Iyer also performs consistently in domestic cricket. The Mumbai batsman led Kolkata Knight Riders to their third Indian Premier League title in over a decade in 2024 and then led Mumbai to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He has continued this form with his new franchise, Punjab Kings, in the ongoing IPL season.
According to Ashwin, Iyer channeled the frustration of repeated insults into motivation, taking his game to a new level.
“Why should he answer to anyone? Channeling that inner fire, Shreyas has shown everyone exactly what perfection looks like. People kept asking questions, saying he couldn’t handle the short ball. But look at how he responded to Jasprit Bumrah when he used a front press to send a short delivery over mid-wicket for a massive six,” he added.
Iyer was in sensational formhe scored 203 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 187.96 which helped Punjab Kings remain unbeaten in the league so far.
“Shreyas is demonstrating his growth in two main ways. He was already one of the best spin players but he has evolved,” Ashwin said. “Over the last two years, he’s taken his strike rate from about 128 to well over 170. He’s operating at a 300 strike rate against fast bowlers. He’s not just waiting for the full ball, he’s attacking them. Why? Because he’s so effective with the short ball that pitchers realize they can’t use him as a safety net anymore.”
Shreyas Iyer will be next in action when Punjab Kings take on Lucknow Super Giants in New Chandigarh on April 19.
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Published on:
17 Apr 2026 14:27 IST
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