New Delhi: Shreyas Iyer was surprisingly snubbed as India announced their squad for the 1st Test against Bangladesh on Sunday. India will take on Bangladesh in a two-match Test series starting September 19 with the series opener scheduled to be played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The Test series will mark the beginning of a long season ahead for India in the whites.
There were some notable inclusions in the squad as Rishabh Pant made his comeback to the Test squad after nearly two years while Virat Kohli also returned to the team after missing the home series against England earlier this year. Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was also recalled after a well-deserved rest while young pacer Yash Dayal was handed his maiden Test call-up.
The likes of Akash Deep and Sarfaraz Khan retained their spots while KL Rahul was included as a pure batter with Pant and Dhruv Jurel taking the two wicket-keeper slots. Many were left shocked at the non-inclusion of Iyer, who led India D in the first round of matches in the ongoing Duleep Trophy. The middle-order batter was expected to be a sure-shot selection.
However, Sarfaraz and Rahul seemed to have pipped him in the pecking order. Iyer, who grappled with back and groin injuries during the Test series against England at home earlier this year, was left out of India’s squad for the final three Tests against Ben Stokes’s men. Reports at the time had, however, claimed the right-hander was dropped and not excluded due to injury issues.
Leaving out Shreyas Iyer from Bangladesh Tests can be a mistake
Iyer might not have been in the best of form for India in the Test series against England at home earlier this year but he has already proved his worth in the middle order in the longest format. In sub-continent conditions where Indian batters will be tested by the Bangladesh spinners, Iyer could have been an ideal option in the middle order.
Out of the 811 runs he has amassed for India in 14 Tests in his career so far, Iyer has smashed 534 runs in 9 matches at home at an average of 35.60, including 1 century, proving his worth in the middle order. With the likes of Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill struggling against spinners, Iyer, who has a brilliant record against spin, could have strengthened India’s batting line-up against Bangladesh.
While he flopped in the first innings, Iyer scored a counter-attacking half-century for his team India D in their clash against Ruturaj Gaikwad-led India C in the Duleep Trophy. In his absence, however, India are likely to utilise Rahul or Sarfaraz at no.6 with Pant likely to bat at no.5 after his return to the mix, and Gill expected to continue at no.3.
If the top 3 fail to deliver and struggle against the spinners, it would leave India in a spot of bother on a tricky Chepauk track with Pant yet to showcase he is back to his very best in Test on his return to the longest format after a long-standing break.
Duleep Trophy a chance for Shreyas Iyer to bounce back
Not all hope is lost for Iyer, who is captaining India D in the Duleep trophy 2024-25. The star batter will have a chance to bounce back and earn back his spot in the Indian Test team if he can perform consistently in the Duleep Trophy. Iyer didn’t do enough in his side’s first clash against India C to convince the selectors of his inclusion and will have to notch up big knocks to reopen the selection door.
Shreyas Iyer was a notable exclusion as BCCI announced India’s squad for the 1st Test against Bangladesh on Sunday. Here is a look at why India might have made a mistake by not including Iyer in the team. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
