In a surprising move, Shreyas Iyer, who had one of the most explosive IPL seasons ever in 2025, has been left out of India’s squad for the upcoming Asia Cup. Despite leading Punjab Kings with distinction and becoming only the third player in IPL history to score over 600 runs at a strike rate above 175, the 30-year-old batter was ignored by the national selectors.
Instead, Shubman Gill, with relatively modest returns, was not only selected but also named vice-captain. The decision raised eyebrows across the cricketing world, especially as Ajit Agarkar, India’s chief selector, simply claimed there was “no space” for Iyer in the squad.
AB de Villiers Calls Shreyas Iyer’s Omission “Weird”
Former South African captain AB de Villiers openly questioned the decision, expressing confusion over Iyer’s exclusion despite his stellar form and leadership qualities.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, de Villiers said,
“It is weird that a quality player like him isn’t making the India squad, especially with the leadership qualities he brings. Maybe it’s about avoiding a clash of egos in the team setup.”
He suggested that when two players are evenly matched on performance, off-field factors like dressing room influence and team dynamics often come into play.
“You start looking at whether the player adds value in the team room, uplifts others, or is a drain on team energy. Maybe it’s something along those lines.”
Too Many Leaders in the Dressing Room?
De Villiers speculated whether the decision was made to avoid a surplus of leadership voices in the Indian camp.
“Maybe there are just too many captains in the squad already, and the selectors felt Iyer’s presence might lead to a leadership clash. Who knows? Maybe not even Shreyas knows the real reason.”
Despite the omission, de Villiers maintained that if he were a selector, Iyer would “be in the team more often than not.”
“There may be things happening behind closed doors that we don’t know about. But based on cricketing merit alone, Iyer absolutely deserves to be in the squad,” he said.
While Iyer’s absence from the Asia Cup squad remains unexplained, he will turn his attention to domestic cricket. The Punjab Kings captain will now feature in the Duleep Trophy, representing West Zone, as he continues to push for a return to the national setup.
With the T20 World Cup not far off, the selectors’ stance on Iyer will be closely watched — especially if he continues to dominate on the field like he did in IPL 2025.
