Iyer's Test Debut Delayed: Former Cricketer Urges Patience, Cites Competition

Iyer's Test Debut on Hold: Veteran Cricketer Suggests Patience

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has tempered expectations regarding Shreyas Iyer's potential inclusion in the Indian Test squad, despite his impressive performances across all formats recently.

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

Iyer's recent form has indeed been remarkable. 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. Furthermore, he followed this up with a career-best IPL season, accumulating 604 runs in 17 matches.

Chopra emphasized the importance of patience when it comes to earning 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 strong contender for a Test spot, continues to make a compelling case. Following three fifties and a score of 150 in six Tests, he struck 92 for India A against England Lions and subsequently scored a century in the intra-squad match prior to the England series.