Shreyas Iyer and the Duleep Trophy: The Indian cricket star chose to decline captaincy in the Duleep Trophy, all because he was hoping for a spot in the Asia Cup squad. Ironically, that very decision seems to have played against him now.
Iyer’s exclusion from the Asian Cup squad has become the talking point. Despite delivering some of his best performances in IPL 2025, the talented middle order batsman was overlooked when the Indian selectors announced their team.
Reports before the selection indicated that Iyer was a strong contender for the Asia Cup, especially after his recent exploits. His last appearance for India was in T20 internationals in 2023, where he made a crucial fifty against Australia.
Turning down captaincy in the Duleep Trophy — a move driven by hope
Iyer is currently part of the West Zone squad in the Duleep Trophy, but he’s not captaining the side. That role has gone to Shardul Thakur, who accepted the captaincy without hesitation. Interestingly, Iyer himself had refused the captaincy offer from the West Zone selectors.
Sources of The Times of India say that Iyer had declined to lead the team, confident that his chance in the Asia Cup squad was just around the corner. His decision not to captain in the Duleep Trophy was driven by the hope of earning a call up for the Asian showpiece.
As reported, “It’s true that Iyer turned down the captaincy proposal from the West Zone selection committee. Following that, the chairman, Sanjay Patail, offered the leadership to Thakur, who accepted readily,” a source revealed.
Is a Test comeback on the horizon for Iyer?
The Duleep Trophy semifinals are scheduled from September 4-7 at the Center of Excellence in Bengaluru. Now, all eyes are on whether Iyer will be recalled to the Test squad for India’s upcoming home series against the West Indies, starting October.
2 With Suryakumar Yadav and Karun Nair failing to capitalize on their chances in England during the Anderson Tendulkar Trophy, Iyer’s name is gaining serious momentum as a potential inclusion.
In what feels like poetic justice, Iyer’s own decision to hold out for the Asian Cup may now be his biggest hurdle. The talented batsman’s patience and hope have seemingly backfired, leaving fans and experts wondering whether this misstep will cost him a shot at redemption in the Indian cricket team.
Stay tuned as the cricketing world watches whether Iyer’s gamble will pay off or if this chapter will mark a turning point in his career.
