Shreyas Iyer's exclusion from India's Asia Cup 2025 squad has stirred considerable debate and surprise within the cricketing fraternity. Recent reports suggest that Iyer was not only anticipating a spot in the squad but also turned down a captaincy offer, hoping to be part of the national team for the continental tournament.

According to sources, Iyer declined the offer to captain the West Zone in the Duleep Trophy. It is believed that he was expecting a call-up for the Asia Cup and had already commenced white-ball training with his coach. Given that the Duleep Trophy's semi-finals coincide with the start of the Asia Cup, Iyer's participation in the former would have been contingent on his Asia Cup selection.

However, the selectors' decision to exclude him from the 15-member squad, without even including him among the reserves, has been met with criticism. Fans and experts have questioned the rationale behind this move.

Adding to the discussion, former Australian wicketkeeper and Punjab Kings assistant coach Brad Haddin described Iyer's omission as an "extraordinary selection". Haddin emphasized Iyer's leadership qualities and his ability to perform under pressure, noting his surprise at the decision. Iyer had recently captained Punjab Kings to the IPL 2025 final, showcasing his leadership and batting prowess.

Former South African cricketer AB de Villiers also weighed in on the matter, suggesting that there might be factors beyond on-field performance that contributed to Iyer's exclusion. De Villiers speculated that team dynamics and off-field contributions could have played a role in the decision-making process. He noted that Shreyas might not be aware of the exact reasons for his non-selection.

Despite the criticism surrounding Iyer's exclusion, Aakash Chopra has dismissed rumors linking Iyer to ODI captaincy. Chopra believes that Shubman Gill is the frontrunner for the role, already serving as the vice-captain in ODIs and leading in Tests.

Meanwhile, Shardul Thakur, who gladly accepted the West Zone captaincy after Iyer's refusal, is now tipped to lead the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team in the upcoming season.

The Asia Cup 2025 is scheduled to be held in the United Arab Emirates from September 9 to 28.