Shreyas Iyer's Test Debut Delayed: Analyst Cites Waiting List, Despite Stellar Form

Shreyas Iyer's Test Debut on Hold, Says Cricket Analyst

Former Indian opening batsman Aakash Chopra suggests that Shreyas Iyer may have to wait longer for a Test debut despite his recent impressive performances across all formats.

Shreyas Iyer (AP Photo)

While Iyer was a standout performer in India's ICC Champions Trophy 2025 victory and enjoyed a successful IPL and domestic red-ball season, Chopra believes several other players are ahead of him in the Test selection pecking order.

"Shreyas Iyer won’t get a chance now. Many others haven’t gotten a chance either," Chopra stated on his YouTube channel. He highlighted the cases of Karun Nair, Sarfaraz Khan, and Dhruv Jurel, suggesting that Iyer needs to move up the waiting list before being considered for selection.

Iyer's recent form has been exceptional. He amassed 480 runs in just seven innings in the 2024–25 Ranji Trophy, boasting an average of 68.57 and a strike rate exceeding 90. This was followed by a career-best IPL season where he scored 604 runs in 17 matches, leading Punjab Kings to their first final appearance in nine years.

Chopra emphasized that patience is key to earning red-ball opportunities. "I know he had a good first-class season. He had a good IPL, took Punjab Kings to the final, did well in white-ball cricket — but his time will come in Tests. He will have to wait just a little bit."

Meanwhile, Sarfaraz Khan, another contender for a Test spot, continues to make his case with consistent performances. After scoring three fifties and a century in six Tests, he followed it up with a century in the intra-squad match ahead of the England series.