Shreyas Iyer‘s omission from the Asia Cup squad generated considerable backlash. Despite a remarkable run in the IPL, where he scored over 600 runs, he was overlooked for the tournament, leaving many confused. Former Indian cricketer Sadagoppan Ramesh was vocal in his criticism of coach Gautam Gambhir, accusing him of picking players based on personal preferences while neglecting those who don’t align with his choices. Ramesh strongly said that Iyer deserved a place in the Asia Cup squad.

“He supports the players he likes but entirely lets go of those he doesn’t,” said Ramesh on his YouTube channel.

“Shreyas Iyer delivered remarkable performances in the UAE during the Champions Trophy and should be a consistent part of India‘s white-ball teams. Players should be supported when they are confident and in form, not when their confidence wanes. This is the perfect time to capitalize on Iyer’s outstanding form and confidence,” he added.

Gambhir’s coaching journey a mix of triumphs and setbacks

Since taking over as coach after the 2024 T20 World Cup, Gambhir has delivered impressive results in limited-overs cricket, including winning the ICC Champions Trophy. However, his tenure in Test cricket has been less successful, with the team only winning the series against Bangladesh. Losses to New Zealand at home and to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy led to doubts about Gambhir’s capabilities as a coach. However, the team responded well in England, drawing the series 2-2.

Ramesh said that the drawn series in England is viewed as a significant achievement due to India’s failure to secure a Test series win under Gambhir’s coaching so far.

“The drawn series in England seems like a significant achievement only because of our poor performances in Test cricket over the past year. Consistent wins abroad began long ago under Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri. However, the drawn series in England is being viewed as a major accomplishment in Gambhir’s record,” added Sadagoppan Ramesh.