Shreyas Iyer surprisingly missed the bus in India's recent T20 Asia Cup 2025 victory. With the T20 World Cup 2026 less than seven months away, it is still not certain whether the right-hand batter will play the showpiece event. While the Mumbai batter has recently been named vice-captain of the ODI squad for the Australia series, he is not in the side for the following five-match T20 series. This snub is a bit harsh, as the batter had a phenomenal IPL 2025 season for Punjab Kings (PBKS).
Shreyas scored more than 600 runs and a strike rate of above 170, and took PBKS to the first final in over a decade. However, it was still not enough for the PBKS batter to secure a place in the T20I line-up in the Asia Cup squad, nor in the five-match T20 series Down Under. The right-hand batter has now received a piece of advice from ex-cricketer Mohammad Kaif, as he is told to 'hang in there.'
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The expert reminded everyone of Shreyas's hitting prowess and his match-winning abilities at the crucial number four during the ODI World Cup 2023 campaign.
"Great to catch up with Shreyas Iyer. What a player. Hundred on Test debut, 2023 ODI World Cup hero, only captain to lead 3 IPL teams to final. T20 national call-up too will come, Hang in there, a great future awaits you, Shreyas," Kaif wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
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Shreyas Iyer deservedly gets ODI vice-captaincy
After successfully leading IPL sides KKR and PBKS, Shreyas has now managed to get vice-captaincy of the ODI squad for the first time in his career. He will be deputy to Shubman Gill, who has succeeded Rohit Sharma to be the ODI captain. Shreyas has proved himself to be a great leader as he won the IPL 2024 season as being captain of KKR.
Later, the Mumbai batter followed that up with a Syed Mushtaq ALi Trophy, and in the IPL 2025 season led PBKS to their second final in IPL season. However, despite the thundering performances, he was snubbed for the five-match Test series against England and for the West Indies Test series.
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However, the PBKS batter later confirmed that he wrote an email to BCCI confirming his inability to play the red-ball format. It remains to be seen if the veteran player plays the upcoming Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season for Mumbai or skips the entire season of first-class competition.
