Shreyas Iyer's Test Debut on Hold: Former Opener Suggests He Must Bide His Time

Shreyas Iyer's Test Debut Delayed: Former Cricketer Predicts Waiting Game

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

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 that several other players are ahead of him in the Test selection pecking order.

"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 surpass these players in the waiting line before being considered for selection.

Iyer's recent form has been remarkable. He amassed 480 runs in just seven innings during the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season, boasting an average of 68.57 and a strike rate exceeding 90. This was followed by a career-best IPL season, where he scored 604 runs in 17 matches and led Punjab Kings to their first final in nine years.

Despite these achievements, Chopra emphasized the importance of patience for Iyer to earn a Test call-up. "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 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 ahead of the England series.