Why Shreyas Iyer Missed the England Test Series: Monty Panesar’s Take

Shreyas Iyer Left Out of England Test Squad

Shreyas Iyer, who’s been leading the Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025, won’t be joining the Indian Test team for their upcoming five-match series against England. This comes as a disappointment for Iyer, especially with the retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from Test cricket, opening up a possible spot for him to make a comeback.

Technical Concerns Raised

Former England spinner Monty Panesar believes the selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, made the right call. Panesar argues that Iyer lacks the technical prowess to handle the swinging conditions expected in the UK. He points out that Iyer’s quick hands and reliance on hand-eye coordination might not be effective against moving deliveries.

“Well, I believe they haven’t missed a trick. I think that he is a very good player, but with the seaming and swinging conditions, I believe he is vulnerable; I don’t think he has the technique for that,” said Panesar to InsideSport.

Panesar further explains that Iyer’s technique, which thrives on bouncier pitches, is not well-suited for conditions where the ball swings significantly. He emphasizes that Iyer’s feet don’t move much, and he doesn’t play the ball late enough to counter swinging deliveries effectively.

Shreyas Iyer’s Recent Form

Shreyas Iyer’s Test career hasn’t been smooth sailing recently. After being dropped from the central contracts list last year, he had a chance to regain his place with strong performances in the Champions Trophy 2025. However, his exclusion from the England series suggests he still needs to prove himself in Test cricket.

Iyer has played 14 Tests, scoring 811 runs at an average of 36.86. His last Test appearance was in February 2023 against England.

Looking Ahead

While Iyer is currently focused on the IPL, his omission from the England Test squad highlights the need for him to refine his technique to thrive in challenging conditions. He’ll be hoping to make a strong comeback in future Test matches.