Shreyas Iyer unlikely to be considered for Border-Gavaskar series after Duleep Trophy debacle - Reports
Team India batter Shreyas Iyer is unlikely to be considered by the selectors for the upcoming home series against New Zealand or the subsequent Border-Gavaskar series. He was not selected for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh, with poor scores in the Duleep Trophy playing a huge role behind his absence.
Once a bonafide member in the Indian middle order, Iyer lost his place in the side due to injuries and poor numbers in overseas Tests. He last played during the home Test series against England, but could only muster a couple of starts before being dropped altogether.
After losing his place in the central contract list, Iyer returned to the domestic circuit on the back of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) success with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). However, he began the 2024 Duleep Trophy with a nine-run knock while leading India D. While the right-hander scored a quickfire fifty in the second innings, he recorded a duck in the first innings of the second match against India A.
Iyer was seemingly making amends in the second innings, scoring 41 runs with eight boundaries in the mammoth run chase. However, he was bowled by Shams Mulani at a crucial phase of the fourth innings.
At the moment, there’s no room for Shreyas to be in the Test team. Who will he replace? Besides, his shot selection has been a concern in Duleep, especially yesterday (Sunday). He was well set and then suddenly played such a shot (off left-arm spinner Shams Mulani). When you are set and then batting on a flat deck, you need to make the best use of that opportunity,” a BCCI official told Telegraph India.
Shreyas Iyer was recently criticized by former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali, who termed that the batter does not have what it takes to succeed in red-ball cricket and his selection even for the Duleep Trophy was unwarranted.
"He still might play Irani and then be available from the second T20I onwards" - BCCI official on Shreyas Iyer
As things stand, Iyer is a one-format player, with his place in the ODI setup secure for the time being. He still has the opportunity for a comeback to the red-ball side through the domestic season, and compete along with KL Rahul and Sarfaraz Khan for the same position.
“Shreyas could be there (in the Mumbai squad) for the Irani Cup (beginning on October 1 in Lucknow). Even if he’s picked for the Bangladesh T20Is (from October 6), he still might play Irani and then be available from the second T20I onwards," he added.
Mumbai's Irani Cup clash against the Rest of India is scheduled to begin from October 1 at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. On the other hand, Team India's T20I series against Bangladesh is scheduled to begin from October 6 onwards.
"Now, if he doesn’t fire in Irani too, he still has the Ranji Trophy to get runs. It wasn’t too many days ago when he was batting so well in last year’s ODI World Cup. He suffered an injury too, which needs to be considered. Also, with still one round left in Duleep, you never know he might score a hundred. He needs to regain form. Most likely he won’t go to Australia for his problems against the short ball, but one can’t just ignore his runs at home," another board official said.
Shreyas Iyer holds a superior Test average away (39.57) when compared to his exploits at home (35.60). But, he has only played nine innings in away conditions without any fifties or hundreds and does not have credible scores in seam friendly conditions like in England and South Africa.