Shreyas Iyer Snubbed! Why he was a must in India's Asia Cup squad

604 runs at a strike rate of 175+ in IPL 2025.

India's highest run-getter in the Champions Trophy 2025.

An average of almost 50 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024.

If there's one player who has proven all his doubters wrong in recent times, it's Shreyas Iyer. No wonder he deserved a place in India's Asia Cup squad — not as a surprise pick, but as an obvious inclusion.

Yes, he last played a T20I back in December 2023, but even in that match, he scored a half-century. And yet, he hasn't played a single T20I since then.

We all saw how effective he can be on UAE pitches during the Champions Trophy. The conditions there heavily favor spin, and Iyer’s ability to counter-attack spinners isn't just valuable — it's critical.

He’s not just another player — he’s a fighter. When he was dropped from the Test team, he responded by leading KKR to the IPL title in 2024. And when he parted ways with the Knight Riders, he guided Punjab Kings to their first IPL final in 11 years.

The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy was another testament to Shreyas Iyer’s T20 prowess, where he hammered 345 runs in nine games at a strike rate of 188.52 - a clear sign of his evolved attacking game.

But it was the IPL 2025 that truly marked the peak of his resurgence. Long seen as not ideally suited for T20s, the Mumbai batter shattered that narrative by leading PBKS with intent and intensity.

Across 17 matches, Iyer racked up 604 runs at a strike rate of 175.07, including six half-centuries. PBKS may have fallen short of the title, but Iyer’s form left no doubt — he can dominate in the shortest format.

There’s one thing we simply can’t deny — with the kind of form he’s in, it’s not that Iyer needs India, it’s that India needs Iyer.

Also Watch: Does Team India even need Jasprit Bumrah in Asia Cup?