Manoj Tiwary blames Gautam Gambhir for 2 big stars' Asia Cup 2025 snub, calls for LIVE selection process

India’s squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 has already triggered a massive controversy, and now Manoj Tiwary has added even more heat by targeting the head coach Gautam Gambhir over the omissions of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer from the 15-member squad.

Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar, head of the Indian selection committee, shocked fans and former cricketers by overlooking Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer along with Mohammed Siraj for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 despite their stunning form and brilliant performances in the IPL 2025.

Manoj Tiwary blames Gautam Gambhir for Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer's Asia Cup 2025 snub

However, Jaiswal was named as a reserve player, while Iyer didn’t even make it there for the upcoming continental tournament, and this decision left one and all shocked. Well, Manoj Tiwary, who has had a strained relationship with Gautam Gambhir since his playing days, wasted no time in making the current Indian head coach a villain behind the high-profile snubs.

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The Minister of State for Affairs of Sports and Youth for West Bengal has pointed out how Gambhir once hailed Jaiswal as a player who could walk into India’s T20I team any day, but now, when the former Indian opener is the decision-maker, the left-handed opener has been sidelined.

Manoj Tiwary openly targets Gautam Gambhir

Manoj Tiwary was quoted as saying by ANI: “Two deserving candidates have been left out of the team. One is Shreyas Iyer, and the other is Yashasvi Jaiswal. If you see old videos of the current head coach Gautam Gambhir, he had said that Yashasvi Jaiswal is such a player who at any given moment can walk into India’s T20 team. And you cannot think of keeping him out of T20s. Now that he himself is the coach, there is no place for Yashasvi.”

The former Bengal captain also highlighted Shreyas Iyer’s consistency across the formats, reminding everyone that the stylish right-hander piled up runs in the IPL 2025 as well as domestic cricket. Iyer was instrumental in guiding Punjab Kings (PBKS) to the IPL 2025 Final.

Read Also: "Would’ve included Iyer, Siraj…" - Ex-BCCI selector gives Ajit Agarkar belt treatment over Asia Cup squad selection blunder

Manoj Tiwary calls for a Live selection process after the Asia Cup 2025 drama

And in the last season, the Mumbaiker had led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to their third IPL title. He also played a key role in India’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 triumph. Despite his heroics, Iyer was ignored, and Tiwary has now demanded transparency in the selection process.

He further added, “Also, look at Shreyas Iyer’s performance in last year’s IPL and the domestic circuit. He has been one of the best in the format. The way he averaged in the 50s while making runs, guided Punjab Kings to the IPL final.

And before that, captained KKR to the title, it’s an eye-opener that he didn’t get a place in the T20 side. This is why I have been saying for years now that the selection process should be made live so that sports lovers know who has been selected and why.”

#WATCH | Kolkata | On India Asia Cup 2025 squad announcement, Former Indian Cricketer & West Bengal Minister, Manoj Tiwary, said, "Two deserving candidates, Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal, have not been able to make it to the team... If you see old videos of Gautam Gambhir, he… pic.twitter.com/EglnpTfLXy

— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2025

Notably, India will kick off their Asia Cup 2025 campaign against the UAE on September 10, followed by the big game on September 14 against Pakistan in Dubai.