Iyer's Test Debut Unlikely Soon Amidst Stiff Competition, Says Analyst

Shreyas Iyer's Test Debut on Hold, Suggests Cricket Analyst

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has tempered expectations regarding Shreyas Iyer's potential inclusion in the Indian Test squad, despite the player's impressive form across all formats in recent months.

Shreyas Iyer (AP Photo)

While Iyer was a standout performer in India's victorious ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign and enjoyed a successful run in both the IPL and domestic red-ball season, Chopra believes the competition for Test spots remains fierce.

"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 presence of other contenders, saying, "Karun Nair has only just gotten his chance. Sarfaraz Khan hasn’t been given a shot. Dhruv Jurel is waiting on the sidelines. If he cannot even get among those who are in the waiting line, then how can he be considered for selection?"

Iyer's recent performance includes a remarkable run in the 2024–25 Ranji Trophy, where he amassed 480 runs in just seven innings at an average of 68.57 and a strike rate exceeding 90. He continued his form into the IPL season, scoring 604 runs in 17 matches and guiding Punjab Kings to their first final in nine years.

Despite these achievements, Chopra emphasized that opportunities in red-ball cricket require patience. "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 hopeful, is also making his case. Following three fifties and a score of 150 in six Tests, he scored 92 for India A against England Lions and followed it up with a century in the intra-squad match before the England series.