The announcement of India’s 15-member squad for the Asia Cup 2025 has ignited a storm of criticism. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar, during the unveiling press conference, tried to address the most talked-about omissions but ended up raising more questions than answers.
Fans back Iyer
“With respect to Shreyas Iyer, who can he replace? It’s no fault of his, but neither ours,” Agarkar said when asked about Iyer’s absence. He further explained Yashasvi Jaiswal’s exclusion: “It’s unfortunate. With what Abhishek has done over the last year or so, plus he gives us a bowling option, it is required. One of these guys was always going to miss out.”
Agarkar insisted that Shreyas Iyer would have to “wait for his chance,” but that response only amplified debate. One fan fumed, “He will get his chance, he will get his chance. When? After he retires?” Another remarked: “Sources claimed BCCI dropped Shreyas Iyer from #AsiaCup squad due to dirty internal politics. But BCCI didn’t talk not to play against Pakistan in today’s meeting. Shame on BCCI.”
Social media erupted with disappointment. “Feeling sad for Shreyas and his fans. He deserved T20 captaincy in Indian team + clutch player. Because of Iyer’s consistent performance India won CT. Just because of GG, Iyer got dropped. He is even not in reserve,” wrote one fan.
Another added, “As per the selectors and team management, SHREYAS IYER is not good enough for INDIA A sides in red ball, not good enough for even reserves in T20Is, in ODIs, you wanted to make him sit out. At times there is too much competition and at times you don’t want any competition.” A user pointed fingers at the IPL, saying, “So, they wanted to drop Shreyas Iyer from the ODIs as well but Iyer had the support of Captain Rohit Sharma there. It all started from the IPL and he certainly won’t get a place in Test and T20I.”
Others called the omission, “No Shreyas Iyer – perhaps the biggest surprise… Leaving him out raises serious questions… Fans are already disappointed.”
Ashwin Questions Fairness of Selections
On his YouTube channel Ash ki Baat, Ravichandran Ashwin voiced his concerns. “See, I understand that selection is a thankless job. Leaving somebody out, telling someone they are dropped, it is not an easy thing. You have to speak to the players, you have to go through the sadness. I just hope Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal were given a call, and they were told the reasons behind not being picked.”
Ashwin acknowledged Gill’s return but stood firm on his criticism: “Genuinely, I understand Shubman Gill’s selection. He is also the vice-captain. He has scored a lot of runs for the Gujarat Titans in the IPL. He has credentials to be picked in the T20I setup.”
Yet, he was blunt about the treatment of Iyer and Jaiswal: “When you have Yashasvi Jaiswal as the third opener in the T20 World Cup 2024, to remove someone from the World Cup squad and bring in Shubman Gill. I mean, it’s okay, I am happy for Shubman, but I’m very, very, very sad for both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer. It is just not fair to these two kids.”
Ashwin also critiqued the leadership logic: “Maybe they are thinking of Shubman Gill as the leader for the future. Maybe he can be the all-format captain. But it is not necessary to have the same captain in all formats.”
He warned that the move puts others at risk too. “What is sadder is that you have announced Gill as the vice-captain, so Sanju Samson’s place is also under threat. Sanju is not going to play. Shubman Gill will play, and he will open the batting.”
Highlighting Iyer’s achievements, Ashwin added: “Look at the credentials of Shreyas Iyer. He went out of the team. But came in the Champions Trophy and did amazing batting. He won and gave it to you. If the answer is that Shubman Gill is in blasting form, Shreyas Iyer is also in high-quality form. Jaiswal’s innings on a tricky pitch in the last game in the Oval… he is also in cracking form. So, how can you give an answer for this? What Shreyas has done wrong… he did brilliantly well for KKR, made them win. He was sent into the auction. He then took Punjab to the finals for the first time since 2014. He overcame the short ball problem. He was hitting the likes of Kagiso Rabada and Jasprit Bumrah with ease in the IPL. I am just extremely sad for him and Yashasvi Jaiswal; it is extremely unfair.”
Abhishek Nayar on Selection Signals and Bumrah
Abhishek Nayar, speaking on JioHotstar, was equally puzzled: “I can’t fathom or understand what reason could justify Shreyas Iyer not being part of the 20-member squad.” He added, “I’m not even talking about the final 15, but the 20 itself, which sends a clear message, that Shreyas Iyer is not in the selectors’ scheme of things, at least from a T20 perspective.”
Nayar also believed Gill’s vice-captaincy is a clue for the future: “This squad announcement sort of tells you the mindset of the selectors. With selection of Shubman, in time, he is going to be an all-format captain, and that’s where they are sort of positioning him. Great pick, terrific player. I’m sure he’s going to follow the mindset of being attacking, having that approach. And I feel it’s going to be a very, very interesting next 12 months in Shubman Gill’s life.”
On Jasprit Bumrah, he cautioned, “We all need to understand that Bumrah is a prized asset. He is the difference between winning and not winning a championship, and that must be respected.” He further emphasized, “His workload and his body must be respected, because when you don’t have him in crucial matches, the impact is massive. Whatever the plan is, no one knows it better than Bumrah himself. He’ll be the best judge of what his body can handle and can communicate that with the selectors and team management. Knowing him and having spent time with him, I can tell you nothing matters more to him than performing well and winning championships for India.”
SKY Defends Harshit Rana’s Inclusion
Captain Suryakumar Yadav defended Harshit Rana’s selection during the press conference. “I think he is doing really well in the IPL and in the game which he has played for India. I remember that concussion replacement game in Pune. I also remember he got a Man of the Match in the last T20I he played for India. So, we back his skill. We know he has got that skill to deliver for India in this format,” SKY said.
Kris Srikkanth’s Strong Criticism
Former India opener Kris Srikkanth, on his YouTube channel Cheeky Cheeka, disagreed: “Where did Harshit Rana come from? He was so poor in the IPL. He is being managed. He had an economy rate of 10 in the IPL. What message are you giving to Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj?”
He also questioned the team balance: “They will make Tilak Varma the sixth bowler. Is Abhishek Sharma going to be your sixth bowler or Shivam Dube? He hardly bowled in the IPL. This is an adjustment selection. If you needed someone who can bat and bowl at No. 8, Washington Sundar would have been ideal. Shivam Dube at No. 8 does not make any sense.”
Srikkanth was particularly blunt about India’s World Cup chances: “We might win the Asia Cup with this team, but there is no chance of winning the T20 World Cup with this bunch.” He added, “Are you going to take this team to the World Cup? Is this the preparation for the T20 World Cup, which is hardly six months away? They have gone backwards. Axar Patel has been axed from vice-captaincy. I don’t know how Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube and Harshit Rana have come in. IPL is considered the main criteria for selection, but the selectors seem to have considered performances before that.”
On batting order concerns, he concluded: “Who will bat at No. 5? Five has to be either Sanju Samson, Jitesh Sharma or Shivam Dube or Rinku Singh. Hardik Pandya usually bats at No. 5, so now, Axar Patel cannot bat at six. I can’t understand how they picked Dube. Yashasvi Jaiswal have performed in international cricket and IPL as well. What does he do?”
India squad: Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Shubman Gill (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma, Sanju Samson, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Rinku Singh
Reserves: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel
