Shreyas Iyer's absence from T20 side and leadership group is India's loss: R Ashwin
IPL 2026: Ravichandran Ashwin has criticised selectors for leaving Shreyas Iyer out of India's T20 setup, calling it a loss for the team, not the player. Iyer has responded with outstanding form for Punjab Kings, continuing his strong performances across formats.
Former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has sent a strong message to the national selectors, suggesting that Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer’s absence from India’s T20 setup and leadership group is a loss for the team, not the player.
Iyer has not been part of India’s T20 side since December 2023 and was excluded from the country’s T20 World Cup-winning squads in both 2024 and 2026.
“If a player like Shreyas Iyer is still not in the scheme of things (T20 side) or the leadership group, then it’s not his loss it’s our (India’s) loss,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
Ashwin’s strong backing for Iyer’s T20I return comes after Punjab Kings’ dominant win over Mumbai Indians on Thursday, where Iyer scored a match-defining 66 off just 35 balls.
Iyer has been consistently performing in domestic cricket as well. The Mumbai-born batter led Kolkata Knight Riders to their third Indian Premier League title in 2024, their first in over a decade, and then guided Mumbai to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He has continued that form with his new franchise, Punjab Kings, in the ongoing IPL season.
According to Ashwin, Iyer has channelled the frustration from repeated snubs into motivation, elevating his game to a new level.
“Why should he have to answer to anyone? By channelling that inner fire, Shreyas has shown everyone exactly what excellence looks like. People raised constant questions, claiming he couldn't handle the short ball. But look at how he responded to Jasprit Bumrah, using a front press to dispatch a short delivery over mid-wicket for a massive six,” he added.
Iyer has been in sensational form, scoring 203 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 187.96, helping Punjab Kings remain unbeaten in the league so far.
“Shreyas is demonstrating his growth in two major ways. He was already one of the best players of spin, but he has evolved,” Ashwin said. “Over the last two years, he has pushed his strike rate from around 128 to well over 170. Against fast bowlers, he's operating at a strike rate of 300. He isn’t just waiting for the full ball; he’s taking the attack to them. Why? Because he is handling the short ball so effectively now that bowlers realise they can no longer use it as a safety net. You cannot simply ‘tuck him up’ with a short ball to save yourself anymore.”
Shreyas Iyer will next be in action when Punjab Kings take on Lucknow Super Giants in New Chandigarh on April 19.
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Former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has sent a strong message to the national selectors, suggesting that Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer’s absence from India’s T20 setup and leadership group is a loss for the team, not the player.
Iyer has not been part of India’s T20 side since December 2023 and was excluded from the country’s T20 World Cup-winning squads in both 2024 and 2026.
“If a player like Shreyas Iyer is still not in the scheme of things (T20 side) or the leadership group, then it’s not his loss it’s our (India’s) loss,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
Ashwin’s strong backing for Iyer’s T20I return comes after Punjab Kings’ dominant win over Mumbai Indians on Thursday, where Iyer scored a match-defining 66 off just 35 balls.
Iyer has been consistently performing in domestic cricket as well. The Mumbai-born batter led Kolkata Knight Riders to their third Indian Premier League title in 2024, their first in over a decade, and then guided Mumbai to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He has continued that form with his new franchise, Punjab Kings, in the ongoing IPL season.
According to Ashwin, Iyer has channelled the frustration from repeated snubs into motivation, elevating his game to a new level.
“Why should he have to answer to anyone? By channelling that inner fire, Shreyas has shown everyone exactly what excellence looks like. People raised constant questions, claiming he couldn't handle the short ball. But look at how he responded to Jasprit Bumrah, using a front press to dispatch a short delivery over mid-wicket for a massive six,” he added.
Iyer has been in sensational form, scoring 203 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 187.96, helping Punjab Kings remain unbeaten in the league so far.
“Shreyas is demonstrating his growth in two major ways. He was already one of the best players of spin, but he has evolved,” Ashwin said. “Over the last two years, he has pushed his strike rate from around 128 to well over 170. Against fast bowlers, he's operating at a strike rate of 300. He isn’t just waiting for the full ball; he’s taking the attack to them. Why? Because he is handling the short ball so effectively now that bowlers realise they can no longer use it as a safety net. You cannot simply ‘tuck him up’ with a short ball to save yourself anymore.”
Shreyas Iyer will next be in action when Punjab Kings take on Lucknow Super Giants in New Chandigarh on April 19.
IPL 2026 | IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Player Stats | Purple Cap | Orange Cap | IPL Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
