The announcement of India's Test squad for the five-match series against England came with several changes - one of the major exclusions was Shreyas Iyer, the middle-order batter who has batted for India. Iyer performed well last season domestically, and while he had represented India in Tests and contributed to the team previously, it felt strange for the selectors to omit Iyer, considering they have picked Shubman Gill as captain and Shreyas Iyer has been under-dropped consistently for long periods when we should have had the option to choose him. This has sparked talk in the cricketing fraternity about whether he was dropped for a lack of form or fitness or if it was a team strategy. 

Shreyas Iyer played 12 Tests for India, where he made 715 runs at a 39.72 average; he has one century and five fifties. Stepping into the Indian Team for the first time against New Zealand was strong; scoring 105 in the first innings and 65 in the second. It prompted readers to place Iyer as dependable in the middle order batter. However, Iyer's performances dipped in subsequent series. In his last five Tests, he averaged 16.80 for the Indian Team and struggled against good pace, particularly with short-pitched deliveries. The Indian Test selectors have looked at his last domestic season for the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy with 480 runs in five matches at an average of 68.57, but they still seem to be signaling a longer-term view of whether Iyer is a player who is good overseas. 

Moreover, balancing the state of the team and looking ahead was also twofold. With the impending retirements of some of the senior team batters, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the team is entering a rebuilding phase. Young talents have been preferred for their recent form and technical adaptability, particularly in swinging and seaming English conditions. This infers that the emphasis of the selectors is to select players that have demonstrated temperament in red ball and were not solely selected on international experience.

The Shift towards Youth and more Specialization

The method of selection clearly indicates a move toward more format-specific roles — example. While Iyer is still a likely candidate in ODIs and T20Is, there have been considerable question marks surrounding his technique versus fast bowling in Test cricket on foreign soil conditions. The selections favored players who have demonstrated a repetition of domestic red ball performance and/or a stable defensive technique as part of the selection for the tour of England.

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While there is concern with Iyer not being selected, this could be a temporary phase. Iyer’s future in Test cricket could hinge on ensuring adjustments to his game and continuing to perform in future domestic tier appeals; while the door remains ajar, at this time India is, without a doubt, prying for player outcomes based on continued red ball performance/experience and ability to adapt to English conditions.