Ravichandran Ashwin has raised concerns over the exclusion of Shreyas Iyer from India’s T20I squad. He cautioned that ignoring a player in top form could hurt the team in the long run.
Ashwin said Shreyas Iyer has shown strong improvement over the last two years. His growth as a batter and captain is clearly visible. Despite this, he has not been selected for India’s T20 side since 2023.
He made these remarks after Shreyas Iyer’s quick 66 off 35 balls for Punjab Kings against Mumbai Indians. Ashwin noted that the batter has used his exclusion as motivation to improve his game.
One key change is how Shreyas Iyer now handles short balls. Earlier seen as a weakness, he now attacks them with confidence, even against bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah.
Ashwin also highlighted the rise in his strike rate. From around 120 earlier, he now scores at over 170 in T20 cricket. He no longer waits and instead takes the attack to fast bowlers.
He added that Shreyas Iyer was always strong against spin. Now, he looks like a complete T20 batter. His all round improvement makes him a strong contender for selection.
Ashwin also backed his leadership skills. Shreyas Iyer has led teams like Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings with calm and smart captaincy.
Fans have also questioned his absence from the national side. Many believe he is a better T20 captain option compared to current choices.
They point out that he led Punjab Kings to the IPL 2025 final. In IPL 2026 as well, the team is performing strongly and playing aggressive cricket.
Ashwin ended with a clear message. If Shreyas Iyer is not part of India’s T20 plans, the loss will not be his, but the team’s.
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