Shreyas Iyer Faces Test Team Wait Despite Strong Form, Says Cricket Analyst

Iyer's Test Debut on Hold, Says Former India Opener

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra suggests that Shreyas Iyer may have to wait longer for a Test call-up despite his recent impressive performances across all formats.

Shreyas Iyer (AP Photo)

While Iyer was a top performer in India's ICC Champions Trophy 2025 victory and shone in both the IPL and the domestic red-ball season, Chopra believes other players are ahead of him in the Test selection pecking order.

"Shreyas Iyer won’t get a chance now. Many others haven’t gotten a chance either," Chopra stated on his YouTube channel. He pointed out that players like Karun Nair, Sarfaraz Khan, and Dhruv Jurel are also waiting for their opportunities. "If he cannot even get among those who are in the waiting line, then how can he be considered for selection?"

Iyer's recent form has been exceptional. In the 2024–25 Ranji Trophy, he amassed 480 runs in just seven innings, boasting an average of 68.57 and a strike rate exceeding 90. He continued his form into the IPL, where he scored 604 runs in 17 matches and led Punjab Kings to their first final in nine years.

Chopra emphasized the importance of patience for red-ball opportunities. "I know he had a good first-class season. He had a good IPL, took Punjab Kings to the final, did well in white-ball cricket — but his time will come in Tests. He will have to wait just a little bit."

Meanwhile, Sarfaraz Khan, another strong contender, is making a case for himself. Following three fifties and a score of 150 in six Tests, he scored 92 for India A against England Lions and followed it up with a century in the intra-squad match before the England series.