As reported by multiple media outlets, former India captain Sourav Ganguly has launched a critique of the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee for leaving Shreyas Iyer out of India’s Test squad for the England series.
In an interview with RevSportz, Ganguly said: “He has been playing at his best in the last one year, and should have been in this team. Last one year has been fantastic for him. He isn’t the player who got left out. He is now scoring under pressure, taking responsibility, playing the short ball well. Although Test cricket’s different, I would have had him in this series to see what he can do.”
Once seen as a reliable option in the middle order, Iyer was dropped from the red-ball setup due to his struggles against short-pitched bowling. But Ganguly emphasized that Iyer has evolved significantly in that department, and deserves another shot in the longest format—especially with both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma unavailable for the England tour.
A stellar year: Iyer’s form makes his exclusion hard to explain
Shreyas Iyer’s case for inclusion has been built on a standout 12-month period that saw him dominate in both white-ball and T20 formats. He was among India’s top scorers in the 2023 ODI World Cup and continued that form into 2025 with a strong Champions Trophy campaign.
His leadership credentials have also shone. Iyer guided Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL title in 2024 and this year captained Punjab Kings to their first IPL final since 2014, scoring 604 runs at a staggering strike rate of 175—by far the highest among the top 10 in the Orange Cap standings.
He followed that with a productive domestic season for Mumbai and is currently leading the Mumbai Falcons to the finals of the 2025 Mumbai League. Yet, despite ticking every box for form, fitness and temperament, Iyer was overlooked without much reported deliberation from selectors.
Agarkar under scrutiny from former captain
The criticism stings more because of Ganguly’s past backing of Ajit Agarkar. During his captaincy years, Ganguly often went out of his way to support Agarkar, considering him a vital part of his teams in both international and IPL cricket. But friendship has not come in the way of honest opinion, as Ganguly took a clear stand against the selection committee’s call this time.
With India’s middle order needing reinforcements in the absence of senior players, names like Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair are reportedly under consideration. There’s also a possibility India may go with a seam-bowling all-rounder like Shardul Thakur or Nitish Kumar Reddy to balance the XI. But to Ganguly, none of that justifies ignoring Iyer.
England Test series: Ganguly backs India for upset
Despite the selection debate, Ganguly remains bullish about India’s chances on English soil. He believes that with strong batting and a fully fit Jasprit Bumrah, India can repeat their heroics from previous overseas tours.
“Yes, sure. We just need two things, batting well and [Jasprit] Bumrah remaining fit. We won in Australia, in Melbourne (2020-21), with a young batting line-up, having no [Virat] Kohli, no Rohit Sharma. So, I do not see why we cannot win.”
The five-match Test series against England begins June 20 at Headingley in Leeds, marking the start of India’s new World Test Championship cycle. While selection controversies have set the stage, all eyes will now turn to the field—and the players who made the cut.
