Overview:
In IPL 2025, Iyer scored 604 runs at an average exceeding 50 and a blistering strike rate of 175.07. Despite these impressive numbers, he couldn’t break into India’s T20I squad, owing to the established core of players.
India’s cricketing depth, particularly in the T20 format, is remarkable. Despite clinching the T20 World Cup 2026 title, some of the country’s finest talents, including Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, couldn’t make the 15-member squad. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly recently stated that even a second-string Indian side would have the potential to beat most international teams in T20 cricket. He was particularly taken aback by the exclusion of one player in particular.
Ganguly expressed his surprise at Iyer’s absence from the T20 squad, pointing out that India’s remarkable strength in T20 cricket makes his non-inclusion all the more difficult to understand.
“India could easily have put together a second T20 World Cup squad with players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Rahul, and Pant. Yashasvi doesn’t even get a chance. Vaibhav Suryavanshi could fit into any team across the globe,” Ganguly told RevSportz.
“I can’t believe Shreyas Iyer doesn’t get a place in the T20 team. I’m truly shocked that he’s left out,” he said.
“Then you’ve got Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna, and even Kuldeep Yadav doesn’t get a chance. India could easily field another T20 team and still beat international sides,” he continued.
Although Iyer has been a vital part of India’s ODI squad, he hasn’t featured in a T20I since December 2023. This comes despite his stellar performances in IPL 2024 and 2025, where he captained his side to the finals in both seasons.
In IPL 2025, Iyer scored 604 runs at an average exceeding 50 and a blistering strike rate of 175.07. Despite these impressive numbers, he couldn’t break into India’s T20I squad, owing to the established core of players.
Iyer will once again captain Punjab Kings in IPL 2026, with their opening match against Gujarat Titans on March 31.