Shreyas Iyer Faces Test Debut Delay Despite Stellar Form: Experts

Shreyas Iyer's Test Debut Delayed: Experts Weigh In

Former India opener Aakash Chopra suggests that Shreyas Iyer may have to wait longer for a Test call-up, despite his impressive performances across formats in recent months.

Shreyas Iyer, pictured during a match. (AP Photo)

While Iyer shone as India's highest scorer in their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 victory and had a remarkable run in both the IPL and domestic red-ball season, Chopra believes 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 Test selection.

Iyer's recent form has indeed been impressive. He amassed 480 runs in just seven innings in the 2024–25 Ranji Trophy, 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, leading Punjab Kings to their first final in nine years.

Despite these accomplishments, Chopra emphasized that patience is key for red-ball opportunities. "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. After scoring three fifties and a 150 in six Tests, he followed up with 92 for India A against England Lions and a century in the intra-squad match before the England series.