Shreyas Iyer breaks silence on Asia Cup snub: 'Only frustrating when you deserve to be in the playing XI'

Shreyas Iyer breaks silence on Asia Cup snub (PTI Photo)

Shreyas Iyer was the biggest notable absentee from India's 15-man Asia Cup squad, which was after his clinical show both in the ICC Champions Trophy and the IPL 2025, which followed. With 243 runs in five innings at an average of 48.60, Iyer was India's highest scorer at the elite ICC tournament. And in the IPL, he led Punjab Kings from the front and helped them secure the runners-up position.

Following the snub, Iyer has been selected to captain India A in an unofficial four-day Test series against Australia A that will take place later this month. He voiced his 'frustration' at being left out of the Asia Cup squad ahead of the unofficial Test series. "It is only frustrating when you know that you deserve to be in the team, in the playing XI. That time, it is frustrating," he said in a iQOOO podcast.

"But at the same time, when you know that someone is performing and playing consistently for the team and bringing (out) their best, you support them. Eventually, the goal is for the team to win and when the team is winning, everyone is happy.

"But as I keep talking about integrity, if you don’t get a chance, you have to see to it that you do your work ethically. It’s not like you have to perform only when someone is watching. Even when no one is watching, you have to keep doing your work. That’s integrity," he added.

Winning the Champions Trophy was 'the nicest feeling ever', he further disclosed on the podcast. Iyer stated that he needed to prepare well and perform well if he wanted to make a comeback. "As we keep saying, you have to trust your preparations. When you prepare yourself in a certain manner, whatever happens on the ground is just a reflection of what you do off the field," he said.

"You cross the T’s, dot the I’s, (if) your preparation is on point then everything is just a reflection. It (failure) can happen only once or twice, not more than that. If your prep is good (and) if you don’t perform in one or two games, (in the) third game you are definitely going to perform. That I have experienced," he added.