AB de Villiers questions Shreyas Iyer’s Asia Cup exclusion: ‘Weird… who knows what’s going on behind closed doors'

Shreyas Iyer’s Asia Cup 2025 omission 'weird', says AB de Villiers, points to possible off-field issues. (Photo: X and ICC)

Former South African great AB de Villiers has voiced his astonishment at Shreyas Iyer’s omission from India’s squad for the Asia Cup 2025, describing the call as “weird” considering the batter’s recent exploits.

Iyer enjoyed a remarkable IPL 2025 campaign, amassing more than 600 runs at a strike rate exceeding 170 and guiding the Punjab Kings all the way to the final. Despite that success, the selectors chose to leave him out of the continental tournament, a move that has puzzled both supporters and cricket pundits.

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Sharing his thoughts, de Villiers suggested that internal factors might have played a role in the decision. "Who knows what is going on behind closed doors. Maybe not even Shreyas knows. There might be a few things that have taken place over the years that have determined why he is not the flavor of the month in this tournament. I am not sure what the reason is because he will be in my team more often than not.”

The former Proteas captain further noted that Iyer’s absence stands out when reviewing the chosen squad. "I just read through that squad, and I was thinking where Shreyas Iyer can fit in. I've seen fans being upset about his exclusion, and Shreyas will be the most upset because he's played some excellent cricket over the last few years. He has matured a lot and has shown a lot of leadership qualities,” he remarked.

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The decision has triggered widespread debate online, with many questioning the fairness and clarity of the selection process. De Villiers’ remarks have only added fuel to the conversation, keeping India’s Asia Cup squad firmly in the spotlight.