Shreyas Iyer's Test Debut Delayed: Analyst Cites Competition Despite Strong Form

Shreyas Iyer's Test Debut on Hold, Suggests Cricket Analyst

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has tempered expectations regarding Shreyas Iyer's inclusion in the Indian Test squad, despite the player's impressive performances across formats recently.

Shreyas Iyer's Test ambitions face a crowded field of contenders.

While Iyer was a standout performer in India's ICC Champions Trophy 2025 victory and shone in both the IPL and domestic red-ball season, Chopra believes that several other players are ahead of him in the pecking order for Test selection.

"Shreyas Iyer won’t get a chance now. Many others haven’t gotten a chance either," Chopra stated on his YouTube channel. He emphasized the competition, adding, "If you think about it, Karun Nair has only just gotten his chance. Sarfaraz Khan hasn’t been given a shot. Dhruv Jurel is waiting on the sidelines. If he cannot even get among those who are in the waiting line, then how can he be considered for selection?"

Iyer's recent form has been remarkable. He amassed 480 runs in just seven innings in the 2024–25 Ranji Trophy, boasting an average of 68.57 and a strike rate exceeding 90. This was followed by a career-best IPL season where he scored 604 runs in 17 matches, leading Punjab Kings to their first final appearance in nine years.

Despite Iyer's strong performances, Chopra emphasized that Test opportunities require patience. "I know he had a good first-class season. He had a good IPL, took Punjab Kings to the final, did well in white-ball cricket — but his time will come in Tests. He will have to wait just a little bit."

Meanwhile, Sarfaraz Khan, another hopeful, is also making a strong case for selection. After scoring three fifties and a 150 in six Tests, he impressed with 92 for India A against England Lions and followed that up with a century in an intra-squad match prior to the England series.