Sourav Ganguly spoke on India’s squad for the upcoming series against England, which does not include previous captains Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Ganguly, who was the BCCI President throughout both captaincies, emphasised the importance of having Shreyas Iyer back in the Test squad, citing his performances over the last year.
The previous BCCI President has rated Shreyas Iyer as a brilliant player since 2024. Ganguly claimed that Iyer has not been treated unfairly and is scoring runs under pressure by accepting responsibility. More crucially, the former Indian captain emphasised Iyer’s development in technique against short deliveries. While conceding that Test cricket is different, Ganguly believed it was vital to include Iyer in the squad to see what he could bring.
“He’s been playing at his best since last year and should have been on this team. The past year has been terrific for him. He is not the player who was left out. He is now scoring under pressure, accepting responsibility, and playing the short ball effectively. Although Test cricket is different, I would have included him in this series to see what he can accomplish,” Ganguly stated in an interview.
Shreyas Iyer’s comeback since 2024
Shreyas Iyer has enjoyed a great 12 months. After being excluded from the BCCI Central Contracts for the 2024–25 season, he captained the Kolkata Knight Riders to victory in IPL 2024. Additionally, he led Mumbai to wins in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Ranji Trophy, and Irani Trophy during the 2024/25 season.
At the Champions Trophy 2025, Iyer played a key role in India’s title-winning campaign from the middle order. He was bought by Punjab Kings for INR 26.75 crores, the second-highest amount ever paid for a player in IPL history. He then led PBKS to their maiden final since 2014 and had his best season as a batter, scoring over 600 runs at a strike rate exceeding 170.
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