The omission of Shreyas Iyer from India's T20I squad for the upcoming Asia Cup has sent shockwaves through the cricket community, sparking widespread debate and surprise among former players and pundits. The decision to exclude the in-form batter, who recently captained Punjab Kings to the IPL 2025 final, has been labeled an "extraordinary selection" and has become a major talking point as India prepares to defend its continental title in the UAE.
Leading the chorus of surprise was Punjab Kings assistant coach and former Australian wicketkeeper, Brad Haddin, who admitted he was baffled by the call. "I first thought when I was reading it that he was injured, but he's not. So, it's a strange decision for me because he brings so much to the game. I actually thought he was going to be captain. Extraordinary selection,” Haddin stated on the Willow Talk podcast. His sentiment was echoed on the LiSTNR Sport podcast, where Alyssa Healy reacted with a stunned "Oh my God!" upon hearing the news.
However, other cricket veterans have interpreted the decision as a testament to India's incredible bench strength. Former New Zealand batter Ross Taylor suggested that only a team with immense talent could afford to leave out a player of Iyer's calibre. "When you can leave that type of quality out, you've got to be pretty comfortable with the depth of your squad," Taylor commented. Former Sri Lankan pacer Farvez Maharoof agreed, stating that India is "spoilt for choices" thanks to a "fantastic" player production system.
Despite the controversy, many believe the selected squad has the firepower to win the tournament. Former India opener Virender Sehwag backed the team to succeed under Suryakumar Yadav's "fearless leadership," while Maharoof tipped the defending champions as "favourites." Maharoof highlighted a key player, stating, "Hardik Pandya, on his day, is a match winner... For me in this side, Hardik Pandya can make the difference."
The debate is fueled by Iyer's undeniable credentials. In addition to leading Kolkata Knight Riders to an IPL crown in 2024, he was in spectacular form this year, amassing 604 runs at a blistering strike rate of 175.07 for Punjab Kings. As the Indian team finalizes its preparations for the Asia Cup, which runs from September 9 to 28, the absence of a proven big-match leader and performer remains the most significant question surrounding the squad.