Shreyas Iyer's Test Debut Delayed: Cricket Expert Sees Waiting Game for India Star

Shreyas Iyer's Test Debut on Hold, Says Cricket Pundit

Despite Shreyas Iyer's impressive form across all formats, former India opener Aakash Chopra suggests that a Test call-up may not be imminent for the 30-year-old.

Shreyas Iyer (AP Photo)

Iyer's recent performances include being India's leading run-scorer in their victorious ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign, along with a productive IPL season and a strong showing in domestic red-ball cricket. However, Chopra believes several other players are ahead of him in the pecking order for Test selection.

"Shreyas Iyer won’t get a chance now. Many others haven’t gotten a chance either," Chopra stated on his YouTube channel. He highlighted the cases of Karun Nair, Sarfaraz Khan, and Dhruv Jurel, suggesting that Iyer needs to move up the waiting list before being considered.

Iyer's recent first-class record is indeed impressive. He amassed 480 runs in just seven innings during the 2024–25 Ranji Trophy, maintaining an average of 68.57 and a strike rate exceeding 90. This was followed by a stellar IPL season where he scored 604 runs in 17 matches and led Punjab Kings to their first final appearance in nine years.

Chopra emphasized that patience is key for Iyer to earn a red-ball opportunity. "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, followed by a century in the intra-squad match before the England series.