Ahmedabad, May 28 – Former cricketer and current head coach Gautam Gambhir sidestepped questions about star batter Shreyas Iyer’s omission from India’s Test squad for the upcoming England tour but took a moment to praise the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for its initiative to honour the Indian Armed Forces at the IPL 2025 final.
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Speaking at a press interaction ahead of the final match scheduled for June 3 in Ahmedabad, Gambhir was asked about the exclusion of Iyer, who is currently in excellent form and has led Punjab Kings to the playoffs this season. “I am not a selector,” Gambhir responded curtly, refusing to comment further on the decision that has raised eyebrows across the cricketing community.
India’s 18-man squad for the five-Test series in England, starting June 20 in Leeds, will be led by Shubman Gill, with Rishabh Pant named as vice-captain. Iyer’s absence from the squad has fueled debate, especially considering his recent performances.
However, Gambhir was more forthcoming when asked about the BCCI’s gesture of inviting the chiefs of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force to the IPL final.
“It’s an unbelievable step. We normally criticise the BCCI a lot on many things, but this initiative deserves credit,” Gambhir said.
“The entire nation must salute our armed forces for what they do unconditionally.”
The BCCI, under the leadership of secretary Devajit Saikia, extended invitations to General Upendra Dwivedi (Army), Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi (Navy), and Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh (Air Force), along with senior officers and soldiers. The gesture aims to honour the success of Operation Sindoor, a counter-terrorism initiative launched after the Pahalgam attack on April 22, where 26 people — mostly tourists — lost their lives due to a Pakistan-backed terror strike in Jammu & Kashmir.
The move has been widely appreciated across political and sporting circles, with Gambhir’s remarks adding to the growing recognition of the BCCI’s symbolic tribute.
As the IPL 2025 season reaches its climax, the combination of on-field cricketing drama and off-field patriotism is expected to draw significant national attention.