Shreyas Iyer’s T20I comeback confirmed! Batter to be selected in India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad

Shreyas Iyer has been overlooked for the captaincy of West Zone in the upcoming Duleep Trophy 2025 despite being one of India’s most experienced leaders in domestic and IPL. The selectors have handed the captaincy of West Zone to the senior all-rounder Shardul Thakur.

Iyer was expected to take charge in the upcoming Duleep Trophy 2025, but the selectors went with Thakur, given his strong performances in the last Ranji Trophy season, where he finished as Mumbai’s second-highest run-getter and wicket-taker.

Read Also: Not Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma! Yuzvendra Chahal reveals the captain he feared

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

Shreyas Iyer misses out on West Zone captaincy as Asia Cup 2025 selection on cards

Apart from Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad was also another option, but the Maharashtra batter has also been overlooked for the role. However, it has been reported by the Indian Express that Iyer might be in contention for an Asia Cup 2025 spot, and that’s why he wasn’t given the captaincy.

🚨 SHREYAS IYER FOR ASIA CUP 🚨

The reason why Shreyas Iyer is not appointed as the Captain of West Zone is because he might be picked for the Asia Cup 2025. [Devendra Pandey] pic.twitter.com/wMnNJEMVgW

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 1, 2025

The 15-member West Zone squad is packed with talent, featuring Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sarfaraz Khan, Tushar Deshpande, Shams Mulani, and Tanush Kotian. But the absence of senior pros Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane in the squad has shocked many.

Meanwhile, the Duleep Trophy 2025 will begin on August 28 in Bengaluru. West Zone won’t play in the quarterfinal, as they will directly enter the semifinal. Their semifinal match will be held at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground B in Bengaluru from September 4 to 7.

Read Also: LPL 2025 dates officially announced by Sri Lanka Cricket

Currently, Shardul Thakur and Yashasvi Jaiswal are both with Team India on the England tour. However, Thakur was dropped for the ongoing fifth and final Test against England at The Oval. Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shams Mulani, and Tanush Kotian also made it to the Mumbai squad.

Here’s the West Zone squad for the Duleep Trophy 2025:

Shardul Thakur (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Aarya Desai, Harvik Desai (WK), Saurabh Nawale (WK), Shreyas Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Jaymeet Patel, Manan Hingrajia, Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Tushar Deshpande, Arzan Nagwaswala, Dharmendra Jadeja.

On the other hand, Hyderabad’s young batter Tilak Varma has been named captain of the South Zone team for the upcoming Duleep Trophy 2025. Tilak, who also plays for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL, will now lead the senior players like Narayan Jagadeesan and Devdutt Padikkal.

Kerala’s strong performance in the Ranji Trophy has been rewarded, with four of their players making it into the 16-member squad. The team also features a reliable left-arm spinner, R. Sai Kishore.

Here’s the South Zone squad for the Duleep Trophy 2025:

Tilak Varma (C), Mohammed Azharuddeen (VC), Tanmay Agarwal, Devdutt Padikkal, Mohit Kale, Salman Nizar, Narayan Jagadeesan, Tanay Thyagarajan, Vyshak Vijaykumar, T. Vijay, R. Sai Kishore, MD Nidheesh, Ricky Bhui, Basil NP, Gurjapneet Singh, and Snehal Kauthankar.