The selection committee announced India's 15-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 on Tuesday, August 19. The announcement for the all-important tournament sparked widespread debate among fans and experts, particularly regarding the omission of star batter Shreyas Iyer. The Asia Cup is set to begin on September 9 in the UAE, with India scheduled to play the hosts on September 10.
Despite showcasing immense talent in the Champions Trophy and consistent performances in IPL 2025, Iyer was not included. On the other hand, Tilak Varma, who had a relatively average IPL season, strengthened his case with some notable knocks for India. Here, CricTracker delves deep to compare who performed better in the IPL, and whether the selections justify themselves on the basis of recent performances.
Shreyas Iyer is one of India's most reliable middle-order batters, with over 100 IPL matches and more than 3,500 runs to his name. The right-handed batter is known for maintaining a strike rate in the 130s while keeping the team's momentum intact, and has consistently delivered under pressure. In IPL 2025, he captained Punjab Kings PBKS, guiding them to their first final since 2014. In a memorable Qualifier 2 clash against Mumbai Indians, Iyer's brilliant 50-plus innings propelled PBKS to the final.