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In a major reshuffle of India’s Test setup, the BCCI on Saturday named Shubman Gill as the new Test captain and Rishabh Pant as his deputy for the upcoming home series against England. The squad announcement saw a mix of surprises and comebacks, with Karun Nair returning to the red-ball fold after more than eight years. However, one glaring omission caught the attention of fans and experts alike — Shreyas Iyer, who has been consistently performing across formats, was left out of the Test squad.
Virender Sehwag questions Shreyas Iyer’s absence from Indian Test squad
Among those puzzled by this decision was former India opener Virender Sehwag, who openly expressed his dissatisfaction following Delhi Capitals’ win over Punjab Kings in IPL 2025. Sehwag questioned the logic behind sidelining Iyer and urged selectors to re-evaluate their choices.
Notably, Iyer has not featured in India’s red-ball setup since being dropped during the England series last year. Since then, he has rebuilt his reputation in the domestic circuit, playing a crucial role in Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy triumph in the 2023-24 season and maintaining solid form in ODIs. Sehwag highlighted Iyer’s form and leadership qualities, emphasizing that the batter deserves a fair run in the Test format.
“He doesn’t get much credit for his captaincy. Manoj (Tiwary) said that Rishabh Pant didn’t get captaincy because his IPL season hasn’t been great. But Iyer has had a great season, he is also the captain. Why can’t he play in Test cricket? He can definitely play all three formats,” said Sehwag on Cricbuzz.
Also READ: Ajit Agarkar explains Shreyas Iyer’s omission from India’s Test squad for the England tour
Sehwag explains how Iyer’s presence could benefit Indian team
Sehwag suggested that India’s red-ball team could benefit from a more dynamic approach in batting, especially with stalwarts like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli stepping away from the format. According to Sehwag, Iyer’s fearless batting could inject new energy into the lineup and force opposition teams on the backfoot.
“When you’re in good form, it’s good to take him to the tour because there are higher chances of him performing. I would want to see him in Test team. If he keeps the same approach in Test cricket, it benefits the team. If you have 2-3 players like that, it sets fear in the opposition. England plays at 6-7 runs/over. If Indian team even manages to play at 4-5 runs/over, they can put them under pressure,” added Sehwag.
Also READ: Real reason behind Mohammed Shami’s absence from India’s Test squad for England tour revealed
