‘T20I call-up will come, hang in there’: Ex-IND cricketer reminds Gambhir, Agarkar for 2023 WC hero Shreyas Iyer

Mohammed Kaif asks Shreyas Iyer to be patient. (Photo: Instagram)

In a peculiar case, it is still unclear why Shreyas Iyer is not preferred in the Indian T20I team. The Mumbai-born right-handed batsman was recently named the ODI team's vice-captain for the forthcoming three-match series against Australia, but it is impossible to ignore the fact that, despite lighting up the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 stage for Punjab Kings, he has yet to be given a chance in the T20I lineup.

Shreyas guided his team to the IPL final for the first time in eleven years, scoring over 600 runs in the 2025 edition of the elite T20 league. This, however, was insufficient for him to make the squad for the 2025 Asia Cup, and he is currently not included in India's lineup for the five-match Twenty20 International series against Australia.

Shreyas recently wrote to the BCCI to request that the board and selectors not consider him for Test matches because of his inability to handle the demands of five-day contests. Despite all of the commotion around him, former India batsman Mohammad Kaif gave Shreyas some advice, telling him to "hang in there."

Kaif recalled how Shreyas scored a century in his first Test match and how, batting at number four, he had an incredible 2023 World Cup campaign.

"Great to catch up with Shreyas Iyer. What a player. Hundred on Test debut, 2023 ODI World Cup hero, only captain to lead 3 IPL teams to final. T20 national call-up too will come, Hang in there, a great future awaits you, Shreyas," Kaif wrote on X.

Great to catch up with Shreyas Iyer. What a player. Hundred on Test debut, 2023 ODI World Cup hero, only captain to lead 3 IPL teams to final. T20 national call up too will come, Hang in there, a great future awaits you Shreyas. ⁦@ShreyasIyer15⁩ pic.twitter.com/53LMWEF8SE

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) October 13, 2025

Rohit Sharma was recently replaced as India's ODI captain by Shubman Gill, marking a significant change in leadership. In addition, Shreyas received recognition for his IPL captaincy abilities when he was appointed Gill's deputy.

Shreyas's life has been a rollercoaster throughout the past two years. Iyer's absence from Mumbai for the Ranji Trophy in early 2024 resulted to his exclusion from the BCCI's annual contract list.

He was added back to the list later that year, though. Fans were hoping that he would be included in the West Indies Test squad, but he confirmed his incapacity to play the longest format in an email to the BCCI.

It will be interesting to observe when Shreyas starts over and plays Ranji Trophy to show the selectors that he is once again a contender for the Test call-up.