‘Anyone can be called if they are in good form’ – Gautam Gambhir on Shreyas Iyer’s exclusion from England Tests

Shreyas Iyer had his greatest Indian Premier League (IPL) season with the bat this year, scoring 604 runs in 17 innings at an average of 50.33 and a strike rate of 175.07. He was the only captain in IPL history to lead three different teams to the finals. In the IPL 2025, the Mumbai batter’s savvy leadership enabled the Punjab Kings reach the final for the first time in 11 years.

Many fans and experts believe Shreyas should consider himself unlucky after missing out on a berth in India’s 18-man squad for the forthcoming five-match Test tour of England, which begins on June 20. Some questioned whether the 30-year-old’s access to India’s red-ball setup had been limited.

However, head coach Gautam Gambhir stressed that any player who is in excellent form and capable of delivering is in contention for a spot in the team. However, the former India cricketer stated that there is only room for 18 players in a squad and it is impossible to select everyone who is performing well.

“You may call anyone. Anyone who is in good shape can be called. We could only choose 18, and the chairman of the selection committee has previously addressed the issue (why Shreyas Iyer was not chosen). For me, it’s always about being receptive to those who are in excellent form and can deliver,” Gambhir said at India’s pre-departure press conference in Mumbai on Thursday, June 5.

Gambhir said that he is not the selector when quizzed about Shreyas Iyer’ place in the squad last week.

Incidentally, the latter was India’s highest run-getter and the second overall in their triumphant Champions Trophy campaign earlier this year. He scored 243 runs from five innings at an average of 48.60.

Shreyas played his last Test match in February 2022 against England in Visakhapatnam. The right-handed batter has featured in 14 Tests, scoring 811 runs at an average of 36.86, with five fifties and one century to his name.