‘His technique doesn’t line up at the moment’ – Monty Panesar backs BCCI’s decision to exclude Shreyas Iyer from Test team

After the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) revealed the Test lineup for the forthcoming five-match series against England, the absence of star batsman Shreyas Iyer sparked controversy among fans and analysts. Many expected Iyer to return to India’s Test lineup, given his stellar white-ball form. Monty Panesar, a former England spinner, has backed the BCCI’s decision to drop Iyer, believing the batsman is not yet ready for red-ball cricket in English conditions.

With senior players such as Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Virat Kohli retiring from Test cricket, the squad is in a transition period. Under the leadership of new captain Shubman Gill and with some new faces in the mix, the team is ready to face the English team. Many were disappointed by Iyer’s absence, considering his good recent exploits in white-ball cricket, notably being India’s second-highest run-scorer in the successful 2025 Champions Trophy campaign. However, Panesar agrees with the choice.

Shreyas Iyer has excellent technique on flat tracks and bouncy surfaces.

I believe the swinging circumstances, or even his technique, do not align at the moment. That is what I think. Because I think his hands are a little rough. He lacks gentle touch and swings the ball late. “Seeing the swing early and playing late, he does come hard at the ball,” Panesar said, as reported by the Hindustan Times.

He needs to play county cricket: Monty Panesar

Panesar pointed out that the Mumbai batter’s technique is better suited to flat and bouncy wickets, and not ideal for England’s seaming pitches. He further mentioned that if Iyer is serious about getting his Test career back on track, he should play a full season of county cricket.

“So, I think technique-wise, his game probably isn’t suited for swinging conditions at the moment. And that’s why they probably thought that, give some of the other players a go whose game is suited against swinging-seeming conditions. In terms of Shreyas Iyer, to get into the Test team, I think he needs to play county cricket. If he’s serious about playing Test cricket, he needs to find a county and play a season of county cricket. And then, prove to the selectors that his technique is up to standard against a swimming string and ball,” Panesar added.

In the Champions Trophy, the 30-year-old scored 243 runs in five matches at an average of 48.60, and in IPL 2025, representing Punjab Kings, he has smashed 516 runs in 15 matches with five fifties so far. Meanwhile, under his leadership, PBKS has managed to enter the IPL playoffs after 11 years.