Sanjay Manjrekar Slams Shreyas Iyer’s Exclusion from Asia Cup 2025 Squad”

Despite a record-breaking IPL season and stellar international form, Shreyas Iyer has been left out of India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad — a move that has stunned fans and former cricketers alike.

New Delhi, August 23: The exclusion of Shreyas Iyer from India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad has sparked a wave of disbelief across the cricketing fraternity, with former cricketer-turned-analyst Sanjay Manjrekar calling the decision “shocking.”

Iyer, who scripted Punjab Kings’ fairytale run to their first IPL final in ten years, was expected to be a key figure in India’s campaign. His aggressive batting and sharp leadership not only reignited PBKS’ fortunes but also made him one of the most consistent players of the season. Yet, when the Asia Cup squad was announced, his name was missing — and the cricketing world has not stopped talking about it since.

Taking to Instagram, Manjrekar voiced his disappointment:
“Shreyas Iyer not making India’s T20 squad for the Asia Cup is just shocking. This is a guy who was left out earlier because the selectors felt he wasn’t committing enough to domestic cricket. But that criticism transformed him. He came back hungrier, better — his batting in the England ODI series was flawless. Then in the IPL, he was arguably the most impactful batter of the tournament.”

Manjrekar further highlighted Iyer’s unmatched consistency:
“With an average over 50, a strike rate over 170, and the ability to change games single-handedly, he was easily the standout performer. And yet, his reward is non-selection.”

The numbers certainly back Manjrekar’s outrage. Iyer was India’s highest run-getter in the Champions Trophy 2025, amassing 243 runs in five matches at an average of 48.60, including two half-centuries. In the IPL, he reached his career-best season — scoring 604 runs in 17 innings at an average of 50.33 and a blistering strike rate of 175.07, with six fifties to his name.

Even in T20 Internationals, his record remains remarkable. Since India’s last T20 World Cup win, Iyer has piled up 949 runs in just 26 matches at an average close to 50 and a staggering strike rate of 179.73, with a century and seven fifties. His last T20I knock in late 2023 was a fluent half-century — making his omission all the more baffling.

As fans vent their frustration on social media, questions loom large over India’s selection strategy. With form, numbers, and temperament all on his side, Shreyas Iyer’s absence is not just surprising — it’s heartbreaking for supporters who saw him as India’s next big match-winner.