Ravichandran Ashwin has thrown his weight behind a bold approach to India’s next T20I selection, as the spotlight remains on Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer and the ongoing discussion about whether he should be included in India’s shortest-format squad. The veteran spinner believes selectors should first identify the top 15 Indian players purely on merit in the format, and then build the team from that list rather than getting pulled into debates about roles or reputations. Ashwin also acknowledged the rising impact of Shreyas and Rajat Patidar in the finisher’s mould, but argued that Iyer’s recent batting performances have placed him on a noticeably higher plane.
Ashwin said that Shreyas has been taking on 200-plus chase targets with rare confidence and execution. He suggested that if the selectors do not pick Iyer, the bigger cost would fall on the team rather than the batter, because India would miss an opportunity to see him in national colours. “The way he’s approaching 200-220 chases is exceptional. At this stage, if he doesn’t get higher honours, it’s no longer his loss. It’s ours, because we won’t get to watch him playing for India. He’s quite similar to Rajat [Patidar], but I truly feel Shreyas is operating in his own zone,” Ashwin said.
Highlighting Shreyas’s form, Ashwin pointed to the consistency the right-hander has shown since the start of the 2025 season. Iyer has piled up 812 runs in 23 matches, averaging 51.00 while striking at a rate above 175, underlining both his ability to score and his willingness to accelerate when the innings demands it.
Ashwin then expanded on his selection philosophy, stressing that the process should be straightforward: if a player is deserving, his name should be written down, and the final XI plus backups should follow the ranking of the best available options. “When someone deserves a spot, you put their name down. You only need to pick the 15 best names you can. Don’t overthink who is missing out. Look at Yashasvi Jaiswal, for instance—he’s an absolute monster. His drive to score is exceptional. Is he good enough to be included in a list for the India T20I side? For sure. So you write it down in that order, and then work out the standbys,” Ashwin added.
While backing the merits-based list, Ashwin also suggested that India’s talent pool is deep enough to support more than one competitive group for the format. He drew a comparison with Australia’s peak years, when the national setup often ran multiple squads and kept a steady pipeline of players in T20 contention.
“India has the depth to field two competitive teams, similar to what Australia did during their peak period. At one point, when Australia were at their very best, they even played a tri-series involving Australia and Australia A. If we assemble two squads like that, it would be a treat to watch,” Ashwin said.
