Iyer's Test Debut Delayed: Formidable Batsman Faces Selection Squeeze, Expert Says

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

Shreyas Iyer (AP Photo)

While Iyer was a standout performer in India's ICC Champions Trophy 2025 victory and shone in both the IPL and domestic red-ball season, Chopra believes several 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 highlighted the cases of Karun Nair, Sarfaraz Khan, and Dhruv Jurel, suggesting that Iyer needs to move up the waiting list before being considered for selection.

Iyer's recent form has been remarkable. 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. This was followed by a career-best IPL season where he scored 604 runs in 17 matches and led Punjab Kings to their first final in nine years.

Despite these achievements, 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 for a Test spot, continues to make a compelling case. Following three fifties and a score of 150 in six Tests, he scored 92 for India A against England Lions and then followed it up with a century in the intra-squad match ahead of the England series.