Former Selector Raises Concerns On Shreyas Iyer, Rana
Jatin Paranjape questioned Shreyas Iyer’s omission and Harshit Rana’s selection in India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad.
Former India cricketer and selector Jatin Paranjape has raised questions over the selection choices for India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad, particularly the omission of Shreyas Iyer and the inclusion of Harshit Rana ahead of IPL 2025 Purple Cap winner Prasidh Krishna.
Paranjape felt Iyer deserved a place in the squad after a strong IPL season and expressed surprise at Rana’s selection. “For me, Shreyas Iyer’s exclusion stands out, I felt he should have been part of this squad, and there are at least three or four players who could have made way for him. I was also a bit surprised to see Harshit Rana in the mix. Clearly, he has the coach’s full backing, but I thought someone like Prasidh Krishna might have been a better pick,” he told IANS.
Iyer played a key role for the Punjab Kings, leading them to the IPL 2025 final and scoring 604 runs at a strike rate of 175. Despite his performance, he was overlooked. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar, when asked about the decision, defended the move by saying it was not Iyer’s fault but a matter of limited space in the squad. Agarkar pointed out that the challenge was deciding who could have been dropped to accommodate him.
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Paranjape also stressed that India’s squad remains very strong despite the debate. “As always, it’s a very strong Indian team that will take the field at the Asia Cup. T20 is a format where India has done really well, and being the current world champions only adds to the confidence. The competition for places is so intense that any squad selection is bound to invite debate,” he said. While Prasidh Krishna has been named among the reserves, Shreyas Iyer did not find a place in either the main squad or the backups.
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Last Updated on August 21, 2025
