India’s men’s chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, has finally spoken about middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer leading the national team in the ODI format. The 47-year-old clarified that Shreyas Iyer was chosen as captain of India A only to test his leadership skills, and not because the selectors were considering him as captain of the senior team.
Shreyas Iyer had earlier asked the BCCI for a break from red-ball cricket to manage recurring back issues. Despite this, he has been named captain of India A for their three-match ODI series against Australia A in Kanpur, starting September 30. He was not selected for the two-Test series against the West Indies.
“We Are Not Looking Shreyas Iyer as Captain” – Ajit Agarkar
There has been a lot of speculation about Shreyas Iyer possibly being groomed for India’s ODI captaincy after his role as India A captain. Agarkar addressed these rumors during a press conference on Thursday, September 25.
“I don’t think we’ve discussed the 50 format. At the moment we had to pick the team for these two Test matches. Look, Shreyas is a senior player. He obviously leads his franchise in IPL cricket. He’s one of the senior guys,” Agarkar said.
“He was captain for India A as well. It’s not like because of that we are looking at him as a Test captain. So, you are trying to find qualities of a leader in a lot of people, and India A sort of gives us an opportunity to see if somebody has that ability,” he added.
Read More
Shreyas Iyer Remains Key in ODIs
Agarkar also commented on Iyer’s decision to take a six-month break from red-ball cricket. He emphasized that even though Shreyas Iyer won’t be part of the longer format for a while, he continues to be an important part of India’s ODI plans.
“Unfortunately, I think the statement was put out already with regards to his fitness in terms of red-ball cricket. He won’t be available, and that gives us a chance,” Agarkar said.
Read More
“I mean, he’s been a key player in one-day cricket over the last few years. So, he gets three games before we go to Australia, and more than anything, we want him playing and playing well there because he becomes a key member in the one-day squad,” he added.
A Six-Month Break From Red-Ball Cricket
Shreyas Iyer has been dealing with recurring back problems since late 2022 and decided to step away from red-ball cricket for six months. He withdrew from the ongoing four-day India A vs Australia A match in Lucknow after captaining the first game. He was also expected to feature in the Irani Cup against Ranji champions Vidarbha, but pulled out.
Instead, Shreyas Iyer has been included in the one-day squad for the Australia A series.
The Mumbai batter underwent back surgery in April 2023 after the issue worsened during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which forced him out of IPL 2023. He made a strong return later that year in the Asia Cup and played a big role in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, where India finished runners-up.
Iyer’s Recent Form
Shreyas Iyer last represented India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, where he was the team’s top scorer with 243 runs in five innings at an average of 48.60, helping India lift the trophy. On the IPL front, he also guided the Punjab Kings to the final in 2025, showing his leadership and form remain intact.
With his back on the mend and a busy schedule ahead, Shreyas Iyer continues to be a vital player for India in limited-overs cricket, even as he steps away from the red-ball game for now.
Read More
ALSO READ: How To Register For Premier League Live Mumbai: Fans To Enjoy Screenings And Meet Michael Owen
