Asia Cup 2025: Former BCCI selector calls Ajit Agarkar’s selection process ‘nonsense’

India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad announcement has triggered one of the biggest selection controversies in recent times, with chief selector Ajit Agarkar facing heavy criticism for leaving out Shreyas Iyer from the 15-member team. Former India captain and ex-BCCI selector Kris Srikkanth was among the loudest voices questioning the decision, openly calling Agarkar’s explanation “absolute nonsense.” The omission of Iyer, who has been in superb form in recent months, has left fans and experts baffled, especially when one considers the balance of the squad and the inclusion of certain other players.

Iyer, who captained Punjab Kings during IPL 2025, had one of the best seasons of his career, scoring over 600 runs at an impressive strike rate of 175. His performances not only stood out for their consistency but also for their ability to change the course of matches under pressure. Yet, when the Asia Cup 2025 squad was revealed, his name was absent—not just from the main 15, but even from the reserve list. Instead, the selectors chose Dhruv Jurel as the third wicketkeeper option, while other batting spots were filled with younger players such as Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Verma, and Rinku Singh.

Defending the decision, Ajit Agarkar explained during the squad announcement press conference that Iyer’s exclusion was simply a matter of team balance. “Shreyas Iyer. It is not his fault. He just had to wait for his chance. You have to tell me who you will replace him with? That’s all you can pick—15 players—and at the moment, he has to wait for his chance,” Agarkar said. His reasoning implied that the current squad members, both established names and promising youngsters, had already secured their spots, leaving no room for Iyer.

However, this explanation did not go down well with Srikkanth, who launched a scathing attack on Agarkar through his YouTube channel. According to Srikkanth, judging a player based on past struggles instead of his current form is a flawed approach. “Given the current form, Shreyas Iyer is a natural choice. One thing is clear. You have to look at recent matches; there is no point in judging a player by his form a year ago. He scored 600 runs in the IPL at a strike rate of 175. Strike rate is the most important here. He has been brilliant. Still you have kept him out of the team. For a player who has performed so well, you are saying: ‘Tell me who he will replace in the team.’ I don’t understand this statement. This is a nonsense statement by Agarkar. Absolute nonsense. I don’t agree with him,” Srikkanth thundered.

The controversy highlights a recurring debate in Indian cricket: the balance between rewarding form and trusting established combinations. On one hand, selectors often emphasize the importance of team stability ahead of major tournaments, while on the other, excluding an in-form batsman of Iyer’s caliber raises questions about fairness and vision. Supporters of Iyer argue that his aggressive batting and experience in high-pressure matches would have been a valuable asset in a multi-nation tournament like the Asia Cup.

Despite the uproar, the announced squad has a strong mix of experience and youth. Suryakumar Yadav has been named captain, with Shubman Gill as vice-captain. The batting order includes promising stars like Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Verma, and Rinku Singh alongside established names such as Hardik Pandya. The all-round department looks solid with Shivam Dube and Axar Patel, while the wicketkeeping duties will be shared between Jitesh Sharma and Sanju Samson. In the bowling unit, Jasprit Bumrah will lead the pace attack with support from Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana, while Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy will handle the spin duties.

The reserves include Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, giving the selectors options to address injuries or last-minute tactical adjustments. Yet, the absence of Shreyas Iyer continues to dominate conversations, overshadowing the positives of the squad announcement. With the Asia Cup seen as a crucial build-up to the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025, the pressure will be on both Agarkar and the selected players to justify the choices made. If India performs well, the criticism may fade, but if the batting falters, the question of leaving out Shreyas Iyer will only grow louder.