Team India Test squad: The announcement of India’s Test squad for the 2025 England tour has ignited a major debate in the cricketing fraternity. The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee named a new-look side with Shubman Gill as captain and Rishabh Pant as vice-captain, following the retirements of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin.
However, the omission of Shreyas Iyer—a consistent performer across formats and a proven leader—has drawn sharp criticism, most notably from former Indian opener Virender Sehwag.
What Virender Sehwag Said
Virender Sehwag, openly questioned the logic behind Iyer’s exclusion. Speaking on Cricbuzz, Sehwag said:
“He doesn’t get enough credit for his captaincy. While Manoj (Tiwary) pointed out that Rishabh Pant was overlooked due to his poor IPL season, Iyer has been consistent. He’s captaining well, and in great touch—why shouldn’t he be in the Team India Test squad? He is capable of playing all three formats.”
Sehwag emphasized that Iyer’s current form and leadership skills make him a valuable asset, especially when the team is in transition after losing senior players. He further argued that the selectors should focus on a player’s good form, regardless of the format, as it results in the chances of strong performances overseas.
Sehwag’s Reasoning: Why Iyer Deserved Selection
- Consistent Form: Iyer’s form at the bat has been excellent, both in domestic games and IPL. In the Ranji Trophy 2024-25, he scored 480 runs in seven innings at an average of 69, including two hundreds for Mumbai.
- IPL Performance: Iyer amassed 488 runs in 13 innings while leading the Punjab Kings in the 2025 IPL. With a strike rate of 172.43 and an average of 48.80, he was one of the season’s most impressive performers.
- Aggressive Batting Approach: Sehwag highlighted how Iyer’s aggressive batting could neutralize England’s aggressive Test attacking strategy..England often scores at 6-7 runs per over; if India can maintain a rate of 4-5, it can put pressure back on the hosts.
- Leadership: Sehwag observed that Iyer’s successful captaincy has not received the recognition that it deserves, particularly in compare to other players who didn’t have great IPL seasons.
Fan and Expert Reactions
Experts and fans of cricket are in agreement with Sehwag. On social media, most couldn’t figure out why Iyer wasn’t selected given his recent performances and the gap created by Kohli and Sharma’s retirement.
Support for Sehwag: Several fans and ex-players backed Sehwag’s appeal, citing Iyer’s exclusion as unjustified and that his inclusion would have bolstered a fairly inexperienced middle order.
Expert Views: Other experts noted that Iyer’s pressure-situational game and exposure to English conditions (past tours and India A series) would have been worth its weight in gold for an inexperienced team.
Selectors’ View
Although the selectors have not provided a clear public rationale, their selection reflects a penchant for infusing young blood into the team. Addition of players like Sai Sudharsan and Abhimanyu Easwaran, returning Karun Nair implies a long-term rebuilding strategy. But according to critics, a combination of experience and youth—where Iyer finds himself right in the middle—would have been a more even-stevens approach.
Why the Exclusion is Controversial
- Statistical Merit: Iyer has made 811 runs in 14 Tests with an average of 36.86, including one century and five half-centuries since making his debut in 2021.
- Recent Form: His domestic and IPL numbers show that he is in peak form, which makes his case strong for Test selection.
- Team Balance: With senior batters Virat and Rohit retiried, experience and hard-hitting batting of Iyer could have introduced much-needed firepower and solidity.
Looking Ahead
Omitting Shreyas Iyer has generated controversy regarding selection decisions and the Indian cricketing future post-Kohli and Rohit.As the team gets ready for a tough England tour new players will face pressure to perform right away. If the middle-order fails to perform , the selectors might be criticized even further for not selecting a player in good form like Iyer.
Conclusion
Virender Sehwag’s discontent with Shreyas Iyer’s absence from the India Test squad for the England tour is based on sound cricketing reasoning. Iyer’s current form, leadership, and attacking style are strong arguments for his selection, particularly as the side embarks on a new chapter. The response from the fans and pundits highlights the common opinion that Iyer’s exclusion is an Indian cricket opportunity lost.
Also Read: Why Was Sarfaraz Khan Dropped From the England Tour 2025? Fair Call or Mistake?
