Shreyas Iyer's Test Debut Delayed: Formidable Competition Blocking His Path, Says Cricket Pundit

Shreyas Iyer's Test Debut on Hold, Says Former Indian Opener

Former India opener Aakash Chopra has tempered expectations regarding Shreyas Iyer's inclusion in the Indian Test squad, despite his impressive performances across formats in recent months.

Shreyas Iyer (AP Photo)

While Iyer shone as India's highest run-scorer in their victorious ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign and enjoyed a successful IPL and domestic red-ball season, Chopra believes several 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. "If you think about it, Karun Nair has only just gotten his chance. Sarfaraz Khan hasn’t been given a shot. Dhruv Jurel is waiting on the sidelines. 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 remarkable. He amassed 480 runs in just seven innings in the 2024–25 Ranji Trophy, boasting an average of 68.57 and a strike rate exceeding 90. He continued his purple patch with a career-best IPL season, accumulating 604 runs in 17 matches and guiding Punjab Kings to their first final in nine years.

Despite these accomplishments, Chopra emphasized that opportunities in red-ball cricket require patience. "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 contender for a Test spot, continues to make a strong 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 ahead of the England series.