Asia Cup 2025: Shreyas Iyer's father slams BCCI after his son's exclusion from squad

The controversy over Shreyas Iyer’s exclusion from India’s Asia Cup squad, announced on Tuesday, shows no signs of fading. Not only was Iyer left out of the main 15-member squad, but his omission from the reserves list also angered fans and former cricketers. 

While supporters slammed the BCCI’s decision, the matter escalated when former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar indirectly criticized chief selector Ajit Agarkar, questioning how Iyer, if considered such a good player, could be left out of even the five standby options.

Although Shreyas himself has yet to issue a statement, his father, Santosh Iyer, openly voiced his frustration. Given Shreyas’ recent performances, his reaction was understandable. It is true that Iyer was not part of India’s last T20I squad – the three games against England in February – and his most recent T20I appearance came in December 2023 against Australia. But a lot has changed since then.

“I don’t know what more Shreyas needs to do to earn a place in the Indian T20 side. He has consistently performed in the IPL, whether with Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders, or now Punjab Kings, even as captain. He led KKR to the IPL title in 2024 and guided PBKS to the final this year. I’m not saying he should be made captain, but at least he deserves selection in the squad,” Santosh Iyer said.