Shreyas Iyer's exclusion from India's Test squad for the ongoing tour of England has sparked considerable debate, despite his impressive performances across formats in recent months. While some, like former India captain Sourav Ganguly, believe Iyer should have been included, others, such as former India opener Aakash Chopra, suggest that his time will come, but he needs to be patient.

Iyer's recent form has been undeniably strong. In the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy, he amassed 480 runs in just seven innings for Mumbai, boasting an average of 68.57 and a strike rate exceeding 90. He carried this form into the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, where he led Punjab Kings (PBKS) to the final, scoring 604 runs at an average of 50.33 and a strike rate of 175.07. Iyer was also a crucial part of the Indian team that won the 2025 Champions Trophy, scoring 243 runs.

Despite these strong performances, Aakash Chopra believes that Iyer's exclusion from the Test squad is justified due to the competition for middle-order spots. Chopra argues that players like Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel are also waiting for their opportunities and deserve a fair chance. He stated that Iyer "would've never made it to the squad for the England tour". Chief selector Ajit Agarkar echoed this sentiment, stating that there is currently "no room for him on the Test Team".

Iyer's last Test appearance was in February 2024 against England, after which he was dropped from the squad. Subsequently, he was asked to participate in the Ranji Trophy but did not play, leading to the BCCI removing him from their central contracts list. Although strong performances in white-ball cricket have reinstated him to the contracts list, a Test return remains elusive.

Sourav Ganguly expressed his disagreement with Iyer's omission, stating that Iyer "has been playing at his best in the last one year, and should have been in this team". Ganguly highlighted Iyer's ability to score under pressure and handle short balls effectively, suggesting that he would have liked to see what Iyer could do in the Test series. Nick Knight, a former England opener, also felt that Iyer's presence in the Test squad would have aided India's transition following the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

While his Test future hangs in the balance, Iyer's recent form and leadership qualities have positioned him as a potential candidate for India's ODI captaincy. He led Kolkata Knight Riders to an IPL title in 2024 and captained Punjab Kings to the IPL final in 2025. His tactical acumen and experience working with Ricky Ponting at Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings have further enhanced his leadership credentials.

Despite missing out on the England tour, Shreyas Iyer's recent achievements indicate that he remains a valuable asset to Indian cricket. While a Test recall may not be imminent, his performances in domestic cricket and white-ball formats suggest that his time will come, and he needs to remain patient and continue to perform.