Newly appointed India head coach Gautam Gambhir has chosen not to weigh in on the omission of in-form batter Shreyas Iyer from India’s squad for the upcoming five-match Test series against England, which kicks off June 20 in Leeds. Despite Iyer’s strong performances in the IPL—where he led Punjab Kings into the playoffs—his name was left off the 18-member squad, raising eyebrows across the cricket world.
When asked directly about Iyer’s exclusion, Gambhir was terse and offered no further commentary. “I am not a selector,” he told the media as reported by NDTV Sports, shutting down further discussion on the matter.
India will be led by rising star Shubman Gill, with Rishabh Pant named vice-captain for the high-stakes series against England.
BCCI’s gesture to armed forces earns Gambhir’s praise
While steering clear of selection controversies, Gambhir was vocal in his praise for the BCCI’s decision to honor India’s armed forces during the IPL 2025 final. The board has invited the Chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force—as well as top-ranked officers and soldiers—to attend the title clash at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on June 3.
The initiative comes in the wake of Operation Sindoor, launched after the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, where 26 people, including many tourists, were killed. The BCCI’s move to recognize the military’s efforts has been widely applauded.
“It’s an unbelievable step,” Gambhir said.
He continued, “We normally criticise the BCCI a lot on a lot of things, but this is something which is unbelievable. BCCI has taken an initiative from the point of view that the entire nation is one and the entire nation has to salute the armed forces for what they do unconditionally.”
Praising the larger message behind the tribute, Gambhir added, “So I feel that with the BCCI taking such an initiative we have got to give a lot of credit to the BCCI and more importantly to our armed forces who have been unconditionally helping and saving us and protecting us.”
The event will mark a significant moment, with General Upendra Dwivedi (Chief of Army Staff), Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi (Naval Chief), and Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh (Chief of Air Staff) expected to be in attendance.
India’s summer of tests—and testing questions
As India prepares for a high-pressure Test summer against England, Gambhir’s leadership begins amid selection scrutiny and national sentiment. While his strategic silence on Iyer’s omission may keep the spotlight on selectors, his outspoken support for the BCCI’s tribute to the armed forces signals a focus on unity and national pride.
Still, questions remain: with key players left out and a young leadership group at the helm, how India navigates both the Test series and the transitions off the field will be closely watched.
