Sourav Ganguly slams Shreyas Iyer’s omission from England Test tour

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has expressed his strong disappointment over Shreyas Iyer’s exclusion from India’s Test squad for the upcoming five-match series in England, starting June 20 at Leeds.

Despite Iyer’s consistent performances across formats, the middle-order batter has been left out of the touring party, a decision Ganguly finds hard to justify.

Ganguly, now a commentator, questioned the selectors’ decision, citing Iyer’s form and improved technique, especially against the short ball — a known weakness in the past.

“He has been in outstanding form over the past year and should have been included in the team,” Ganguly told RevSportz. “The last year has been brilliant for him. He’s handling pressure, taking responsibility, and playing the short ball effectively. While Test cricket is a different challenge, I would’ve picked him to see how he performs.”

Iyer last featured in a Test match during India’s 2024 home series against England but was dropped mid-way. Since then, he has scored heavily in domestic and T20 competitions. In the 2024–25 Ranji Trophy, Iyer amassed 480 runs in seven innings for Mumbai at an average of 68.57, including two centuries.

Iyer has also led two IPL franchises to remarkable finishes in back-to-back seasons. He captained Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to the title in 2024 and took charge of Punjab Kings (PBKS) in 2025, guiding them to their first final in over a decade. In the 2025 season, Iyer scored 604 runs in 17 matches at a strike rate of 175 — the highest among the top ten run-scorers.

Ganguly highlighted Iyer’s leadership qualities and clutch performances under pressure as further reasons for his inclusion.

Despite his criticism over Iyer’s omission, Ganguly backed the Indian team to perform well in England.

“We just need to bat well and keep Bumrah fit,” he said. “We won in Australia with a young side missing Kohli and Rohit. There’s no reason we can’t do it in England.”

The 5-match Test series begins on June 20 at Leeds. The series will also mark the beginning of a new era with Shubman Gill as captain and Rishabh Pant as vice-captain. India last won a Test series in England in 2007.