As Shreyas Iyer continues to showcase his skills as the captain of the Punjab Kings in the ongoing Indian Premier League season, former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has come to the defense of the middle-order batsman, terming his continued omission from the Indian T20I side as “unfair”.
During a recent deep dive into the current season, Sportstar Manjrekar suggested that if Iyer harbors resentment over the “raw offer” he received from the national selectors, those feelings are entirely justified given his current form.
“They decided not to give him a contract and that might have hurt him,” Manjrekar noted during the podcast. “He started emerging in Mumbai and then came back to India against England in the one-day series that culminated in the Champions Trophy where he was outstanding. Then came this IPL performance but he still wasn’t picked.”
IYER’S DISCHARGE FALSE: MANJREKAR
Iyer had earlier revealed that a lack of communication and persistent fitness issues cost him his place in the Indian team and his central contract. However, his captaincy record continues to bolster his credentials: led Delhi Capitals to their first ever IPL final in 2020, led Kolkata Knight Riders to the title in 2024 and led Punjab Kings to the final in 2025. The 2026 season has PBKS firmly at the top of the table.
“If this performance doesn’t get you into the Indian team, a player like Shreyas Iyer in the order, because those are tough positions, it’s just unfair,” Manjrekar added. “If he has such anxiety towards someone that he gives them a deal like that, I think that’s valid.
With the bat, Iyer has been in scintillating form for PBKS, amassing 208 runs at an average of 52 and an explosive strike rate of 182.46. This record includes three half-centuries, all of which have anchored successful runs. His ability to finish plays while maintaining pressure on the lead made him the standout player of the tournament. He will be next seen when Punjab Kings take on Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on April 25.
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Published on:
21 Apr 2026 18:37 IST
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