Shreyas Iyer's exclusion exposed Ajit Agarkar alleges teammate

Indian selectors have left out Shreyas Iyer from the squad for the upcoming five-match Test series against England despite his doing well across the formats, and that baffled many, including the former batter and commentator Mohammad Kaif.

With legends Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma stepping away from Test cricket, all eyes were on who would carry the legacy forward, and many expected that Shreyas Iyer would make a comeback to the Test folds. But Indian chief selector Ajit Agarkar said that there is no “room” for Iyer on the Test team.

Mohammad Kaif fumes over Shreyas Iyer’s shock omission from Test squad

Instead of banking on experienced players like Iyer, the national selectors decided to bet on fresh faces like Sai Sudharsan, and this decision hasn’t gone down well with Kaif. Agarkar said that Sai Sudharsan was handed the maiden Test call-up due to his blockbuster IPL 2025 season.

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And this is the reason behind Kaif’s fury at the national selectors. Sai Sudharsan has been sensational for Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2025, where he has so far smashed over 679 runs across 14 innings at an average of over 52. His explosive form in T20 cricket no doubt impressed the selectors, but Kaif questioned their criteria for the different players.

The former Indian batter said that if the IPL form was good enough for Sudharsan’s selection, then how did Ajit Agarkar and his selection committee overlook Shreyas Iyer, who has been performing well in domestic cricket as well as in the ongoing season?

Shreyas Iyer in red-hot form across all formats

The Mumbaikar has been in red-hot form across all formats. In the Ranji Trophy 2024-25, Iyer piled up 480 runs in just seven innings at a staggering average of 68.57. He played a key role in India’s triumphant ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign, where he was the team’s highest scorer with 243 runs.

And now, in the ongoing IPL 2025, the right-handed batter has already crossed the 500-run mark while leading Punjab Kings into the playoffs for the first time since 2011.

Given that, Kaif has slammed the selectors for picking Sudharsan in the Test squad based on IPL 2025 form while ignoring Iyer. He questioned why one white-ball performer was picked and the other ignored.

Read Also: AB de Villiers gets in a feud with IPL commentators after landing in India

Mohammad Kaif questions Sai Sudharsan's selector over Shreyas Iyer in Test squad for England tour

Mohammad Kaid said on his YouTube channel, “Sai Sudharsan is a brilliant player, no doubt. But he was picked in the Test squad after a good IPL season (679 runs and counting). Iyer, meanwhile, has been doing well for so long. He scored some 550 runs in the 2023 ODI World Cup and in the Champions Trophy as well.”

Kaif signed off by saying, “He is still doing a terrific job with the bat for Punjab Kings—514 runs and counting. He is captaining too. So, on one hand, you are considering white-ball criteria for one player and not for the other.”

Well, Iyer will be seen in action on Thursday, May 29, when Punjab Kings will take on the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Qualifier 1 of the ongoing IPL 2025 in Chandigarh.

Read Also: Gautam Gambhir releases official statement on Shreyas Iyer's exclusion from India Test squad vs England