India's Asia Cup 2025 squad announcement has set off heated debates across the cricketing fraternity. With the tournament acting as a stepping stone toward next year's T20 World Cup, every selection and omission is under the watch.
While the chosen squad reflects a preference for recent IPL form, the absence of two high-profile performers: Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal has stirred criticism, And one of the sharpest reactions has come from former India batter and West Bengal minister Manoj Tiwary.
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Manoj Tiwary questions Gautam Gambhir over Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal omissions
Reacting to the squad, Tiwary expressed disappointment over the snubs of both Iyer and Jaiswal. He pointed out that Gautam Gambhir - India's head coach, had once strongly backed Jaiswal as an indispensable T20 talent.
"Two deserving candidates, Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal, have not been able to make it to the team. If you see old videos of Gautam Gambhir, he had said that Yashasvi Jaiswal is such a player that we cannot think of keeping him out of T20. Now that he himself is the coach, there is no place for Shreyas Iyer in the team. Shreyas Iyer's performance is the best if you look at the last year. It's eye-opening that he didn't get a place in the T20. The selection process should be made live so that sports lovers know who has been selected and why," Tiwary told ANI.
Iyer's case was particularly puzzling - given his standout run with the Punjab Kings in IPL 2025 where he led them to a runners-up finish. Jaiswal too had a good season - scoring 559 runs for Rajasthan Royals at a strike rate close to 160.
Yet, both players missed out. Iyer was not even included among the reserves while Jaiswal was named only in the standby list. Their absence is in contrast to the inclusion of Jitesh Sharma - whose IPL form earned him a call-up.
With India preparing for the 2026 T20 World Cup, the omissions highlight the intense competition for batting spots. While Gambhir and the selection panel appear focused on specific roles, the decisions have left room for debate.
For Iyer and Jaiswal, the next few months will be crucial in keeping themselves in contention for major tournaments.