'If Shubman Gill is in blasting form, then Shreyas is also in fine form': Ashwin calls Iyer's Asia Cup snub 'unfair'

Ravichandran Ashwin questions Ajit Agarkar’s ‘unfair’ call on Shreyas Iyer. (Photo: ICC and X)

Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was unreserved in his criticism of Ajit Agarkar, the chairman of selectors, for excluding Shreyas Iyer from the Asia Cup squad. On Tuesday, the 15-member team for the eight-team competition was chosen by the All India Men's Senior Selection Committee. The team will be led by Suryakumar Yadav, with Shubman Gill acting as his deputy. However, Shreyas Iyer's exclusion from the squad was the main topic of discussion.

Shreyas' exclusion on the five-man reserve list, which consists of Washington Sundar, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Prasidh Krishna, sparked even more speculation. Shreyas has recently become a T20S beast, amassing runs for fun in the IPL and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Also Read - Asia Cup 2025: How Shubman Gill offers Team India plan B and much-needed versatility

For the first time since 2014, Shreyas Iyer led Punjab Kings to the IPL final earlier this year. The right-hander amassed over 600 runs with the bat. Shreyas had already guided the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to their third IPL championship victory in 2024.

India won the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 thanks in large part to Shreyas' outstanding form. Shreyas became an essential middle-order cog in Dubai's sluggish and winding conditions, helping the squad push the pace in the middle overs.

Ashwin expressed his sympathy for Shreyas Iyer, saying that there was nothing more he could have done to earn a spot in the Asia Cup squad.

Also Read - ‘Not his fault, nor it is ours’: Ajit Agarkar on Shreyas Iyer’s omission from India's Asia Cup squad

“Shreyas Iyer has solid credentials. He was out of the team, but he made you win the Champions Trophy. If you argue that Shubman Gill is in blasting form, then Shreyas is also in some fine form. Who will answer all these questions? What Shreyas has done wrong,” asked Ashwin on his YouTube channel ‘Ash Ki Baat’.

“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,” added Ashwin.

In his 51 T20I appearances for India thus far, Shreyas Iyer has amassed 1104 runs with a strike rate of 136.12 and an average of 30.66. He played his last Twenty20 International against Australia in December 2023.

When asked why he didn't choose Shreyas Iyer, Ajit Agarkar said that although the batter has been playing well, the team doesn't have room for him now.

"With regards to Shreyas, I mean, you need to tell him who he can replace. No fault of his, nor is it ours. It's just that we have to pick 15 at the moment; he'll have to wait for his chance," said Agarkar.

In the 2024–25 season, Mumbai defeated Madhya Pradesh in the finals to win the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy under Shreyas Iyer's leadership.