Shreyas Iyer Faces Test Team Wait Despite Stellar Form, Says Analyst

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

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has tempered expectations surrounding Shreyas Iyer's potential inclusion in the Indian Test squad. Despite Iyer's impressive form across formats in recent months, Chopra suggests the 30-year-old will need to remain patient.

Shreyas Iyer (AP Photo)

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

"Shreyas Iyer won’t get a chance now. Many others haven’t gotten a chance either," Chopra stated on his YouTube channel. He highlighted the cases of Karun Nair, Sarfaraz Khan, and Dhruv Jurel, suggesting that Iyer needs to move up the waiting list before being 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 stellar IPL season where he scored 604 runs in 17 matches, leading Punjab Kings to their first final in nine years.

Despite these achievements, Chopra emphasized the importance of patience in securing Test opportunities. "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 contender for a Test spot, continues to impress. Following three fifties and a score of 150 in six Tests, he scored 92 for India A against England Lions and followed it up with a century in the intra-squad match ahead of the England series.