AB de Villiers links Shreyas Iyer’s Asia Cup snub to fight with Suryakumar Yadav, Shubman Gill

Legendary South Africa National Cricket Team batsman AB de Villiers has speculated some huge reasons behind the snub of the star batter Shreyas Iyer from India's Asia Cup 2025 squad.

One of the guesses taken by AB de Villiers was that the presence of Shreyas Iyer would have meant 'too many leaders' in the Indian dressing room and a clash between him, Suryakumar Yadav, and Shubman Gill.

Who knows what is going on behind closed doors - AB de Villiers

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief selector Ajit Agarkar has been at the receiving end of a heavy backlash since announcing the India squad for the Asia Cup 2025.

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He has mainly faced criticism for non selecting Shreyas Iyer in the squad despite the batter's consistent and exceptional performances in 2025.

Iyer looked in stellar touch in the home ODI series against the England National Cricket Team and finished as India's leading run-getter in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

After that, he led Punjab Kings (PBKS) from the front in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 by playing explosive knocks and took the team to the final, which they eventually lost to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

Shreyas Iyer's absence from the Asia Cup 2025 squad shocked many, and now the legendary batter AB de Villiers has expressed his surprise over the selectors' decision. Speaking on his YouTube channel, AB de Villiers said:

"Who knows what is going on behind closed doors. Maybe not even Shreyas knows. There might be a few things that have taken place over the years that's determined why he is not the flavor of the month this tournament. I am not sure what the reason is because he will be in my team more often than not."

He has matured a lot and has shown a lot of leadership qualities - AB de Villiers

The Proteas great further praised Iyer, saying that he has matured and emerged as a brilliant leader. He stated:

"I just read through that squad and I was thinking where Shreyas Iyer can fit in. I've seen fans being upset about his exclusion and Shreyas will be the most upset because he's played some really good cricket over the last few years. He has matured a lot and has shown a lot of leadership qualities."

While speculating a reason behind the snub of Iyer from the India squad for the continental tournament, De Villiers said:

"Thinking about when I was captaining, if there is a 50-50 call between two players, I would always lean towards the guy that offers more from a team perspective off the field. When it's 50-50 on the field, you have to start looking at other areas like 'Does he add value in the team room, does he have a smile on his face, does he uplift some of the other players around him?'. Or is he sort of dragging energy from the squad?"

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Maybe it'll be too much of a clash with him there - AB de Villiers

Another reason that De Villiers felt that could have led to Iyer's ouster was a possible dressing room war between him, Suryakumar Yadav, and Shubman Gill due to the presence of too many leaders.

"Maybe it's got something to do with that. I am just taking a complete guess because it is weird that a quality player like him not making the starting squad for Team India, especially with the leadership qualities he is bringing," he stated

"Maybe it'll be too much of a clash with him there and maybe there are too many leaders and too many captains. Maybe the truth will come out one day and we'll know why Shreyas is struggling to get into Team India."