Shreyas Iyer ignored India’s England Test tour despite leading three IPL teams to the finals. Gautam Gambhir breaks silence on controversial omission. Here’s the full story.

The Selection That Sparked a Firestorm

The day BCCI announced India’s England Test squad for the soon-to-happen series on June 20, fans and analysts rejoiced over Karun Nair come back along with young player Sai Sudarsan. And then the huzzahs were followed quickly by bewilderment and then furrows of anger. How come Shreyas Iyer [Captain of 3 different IPL franchises to finals] was abandoned?

Iyer’s Leadership and Form: A Track Record That Speaks

The sting of Iyers leaving out has even more reason though because it is not only on his leadership. His batting form has been sensational. He did manage to take Punjab Kings to the final in IPL 2025, however, lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the title decider. Earlier in his career, he lifted the trophy with Kolkata Knight Riders and also led Delhi Capitals up to the 2020 final. The numbers at the domestic level aside from the luster of the IPL just show this is not just an IPL wonder boy and in the last Ranji season, he registered 480 runs in just five matches including two centuries.

The Silence Breaks: Gautam Gambhir Speaks Out

Gautam Gambhir, the man who is now coaching Team India was grilled with questions of course. Several took it as a red rag to his profession he had missed Iyer. But not Gambhir who is nothing if not blunt and that the decision was not his. “I am not a selector,” he elaborated. He still offered some clues to the process: “They can be called anytime if the player is in form. It was only 18 players we could name. But I do think open, transparent conversations with people performing are important.

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Selectors Under Fire: Fans Demand Answers

Social media and cricketing forums were not kind. The general public along with fans and analysts were left dumbfounded on how a consistent player would be washed away like that. Iyer diluted the taste of his Ranji stats with Vijay Hazare and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy glory as well. His current statistics, with his cool seniority in the middle, made it almost a given that he would replace Kohli at number 3.

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Still Waiting for His Test Redemption

Iyer may have many achievements but he is offside. What if Gambhir ( Yes I said him ) hinted to be called mid-series for Iyer? Or is this yet another of India’s best all-rounders slipping through the fingers? Right now fans would be left to query — how far does Shreyas Iyer have to go before he gets picked by the stories?

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