Fresh IPL chatter is once again circling around Shreyas Iyer’s absence from India’s T20I setup, with the debate getting louder as the season moves into sharper focus. This time, it’s not only his batting that fans and analysts are pointing to, but also his captaincy credentials, with a growing belief that he could be the natural successor to Suryakumar Yadav in the shorter format. Amid the noise, former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar backed Iyer’s feelings after what he called an “unfair” omission.
Quick facts
- Sanjay Manjrekar said Shreyas Iyer’s anger over an “unfair” T20I omission is justified.
- In 2024, the BCCI removed Iyer from the central contract list for not appearing in domestic cricket while he was away from international action.
- Iyer later returned to the India set-up after a steady IPL run and domestic appearances, and impressed in ODI cricket during the Champions Trophy.
- Manjrekar highlighted Iyer’s comeback against England in a one-day series that led into the Champions Trophy.
- Iyer’s best-ever IPL season included 603 runs at a strike rate of 175.80, leading Punjab Kings to their first final in 11 years.
- In IPL 2026 so far, Iyer has scored 208 runs at an average of 52 and a strike rate of 182.46 for Punjab Kings.
- Punjab Kings are top of the table and are the only team yet to register a loss in IPL 2026.
- Punjab Kings next play Delhi Capitals at Arun Jaitley Stadium on April 25.
Manjrekar’s point was clear: Iyer’s frustration makes sense when you look at the path he took to regain momentum. He noted that Iyer was left out of the central contract group, a call that he believes “may have hurt him,” before Iyer worked his way back by showing up consistently for Mumbai. That domestic rhythm, in turn, helped him earn a return to the national fold, with Manjrekar pointing to Iyer’s comeback for India in a one-day series against England.
The former India player linked that resurgence to Iyer’s Champions Trophy impact as well, describing the tournament as a strong showing that proved his quality in pressure situations. From there, the conversation turned to the IPL—where Iyer’s leadership and batting form kept drawing attention. Manjrekar argued that even after this sequence of performances, Iyer still didn’t get selected for India’s T20I side, which he described as difficult to justify for a top-order batter operating in one of the most demanding role spaces: batting down the order.
He also expanded on the emotional angle, saying that if Iyer has that “angst” because of the kind of contract decision he faced, then the reaction is understandable. In Manjrekar’s view, the combination of domestic contributions, international returns, and club performances should have translated into a clearer opportunity in the T20I squad.
From Champions Trophy to another IPL push
It’s not hard to see why the debate keeps resurfacing. Back in 2024—only months after his standout role in the 2023 ODI World Cup—the BCCI removed Iyer from the central contract list for not featuring in domestic matches during his time away from international cricket. Iyer later explained that the absence was linked to injury, but the decision nonetheless became a reference point in discussions about how his comeback was handled.
After that, the narrative improved. With a consistent IPL run, where he captained KKR to the title in the same year, and with domestic appearances adding weight to his case, Iyer was recalled to the Indian setup. He then carried that form into ODI cricket, producing another influential stretch during last year’s Champions Trophy.
Yet, the question remains: if those performances didn’t open the doors to India’s T20I team, what will? Manjrekar underlined this by pointing to Iyer’s best-ever IPL season, when he amassed 603 runs at a strike rate of 175.80 and guided Punjab Kings to their first final in 11 years. The argument is that such output—particularly with Iyer’s role profile—should carry significant selection weight.
That same logic is being tested again in the current edition. A year on, Iyer has started strongly, compiling 208 runs at an average of 52 and a strike rate of 182.46 for Punjab Kings. The franchise, in turn, has set the tone in IPL 2026, sitting at the top of the table and remaining the only team yet to lose a match.
Punjab Kings will now continue their charge with their next fixture against Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on April 25. With Iyer’s form still drawing attention, another strong outing could only add fuel to the wider conversation about his place in India’s T20I plans.
