Selectors favour continuity over IPL form

• Abhishek Nayar, a member of the Indian team's coaching staff, questioned the selectors' decision to leave out Shreyas Iyer from the Asia Cup squad.

"I can't fathom or understand what reason could justify Shreyas Iyer not being part of the 20-member squad (including the reserves). I'm not even talking about the final 15, but the 20 itself, which sends a clear message, that Shreyas Iyer is not in the selectors' scheme of things, at least from a T20 perspective," Nayar, a former India all-rounder, said while speaking on JioHotstar.

Iyer led Punjab Kings with inspired batting and captaincy, guiding them to a rare IPL final. He amassed 603 runs batting in the middle order, with an average of over 50 and a strike rate of over 175. The 30-year-old batter, sixth on the IPL batting charts, is a seasoned international with 135 games for India (across formats) under his belt.

The chief selector explained the non-selection of Iyer, who was one of India's standout performers in the Champions Trophy earlier this year and at the World Cup in 2023.

"With regards to Shreyas, I mean, we'll have to tell you who he can replace. Again, no fault of his, nor is it ours. It's just that we can only pick 15 and at the moment he will have to wait for his chance,"

The selectors overlooked several other notable IPL performers as well. Sai Sudharsan, the league's highest scorer with 759 runs, missed out, while Prasidh Krishna, the leading wicket-taker of the IPL season with 25 scalps, could be selected only among the reserves. Yashasvi Jaiswal, too, has been picked among the reserves despite scoring 559 runs and being part of India's triumphant 2024 World Cup squad.

There was a perception that it was a toss-up between Shubman Gill and Jaiswal, and the selectors opted for Gill, given his recent form. For the most part, they stuck to the status quo, choosing not to be overly swayed by IPL performances and retaining the core of the T20I squad that had won 16 of its 20 games since the 2024 World Cup triumph.

"With regards to Yashasvi, it's just unfortunate," Agarkar said, revealing the thinking of the selection committee. "With Abhishek Sharma… what he has done over the last few months or a year or so that he has been with the team, plus that he can bowl a little bit. (That) gives us some options if required by the captain. One of these guys will always be going to miss out. It's just unfortunate that Yashasvi might have to wait for his chance."

The selectors appear to have given a vote of confidence to Jasprit Bumrah, who has faced criticism for not playing all five Tests of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. As per the pre-series arrangement, he played three Tests in the series, but this led to outcry that the ace pacer was picking and choosing matches. Agarkar, however, maintained that nothing will change.

"There is no written plan. There is a nice break after the England series. We want him to be available for all the big games. The team management and physios are in touch with him. Most fast bowlers are monitored. Because he picked up injuries in the last 2-3 years, extra care is taken because of how unique and special he is. It won't change.

"And it won't change – it won't change whether it's this series or maybe the next 6 months. As we go along, how he's feeling now, when we require him as a team, which is probably the most important thing. And along with the visuals and the play-dance, those things are monitored in place. We hope that he's available more often than not."