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The 2025–26 domestic season begins with the Duleep Trophy in Bengaluru, a tournament doubling as auditions for vacancy in India's Test line-up. With questions over No. 3, No. 6 and pace depth, batters like Devdutt Padikkal, Shreyas Iyer and Sarfraz Khan, along with bowlers Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar, aim to impress selectors ahead of home Test series against West Indies and South Africa.

Shreyas Iyer declined West Zone captaincy in the Duleep Trophy, leading to Shardul Thakur's appointment. Iyer, anticipating an Asia Cup call-up, focused on white-ball training but was surprisingly excluded from the squad. Meanwhile, Thakur is expected to lead Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy, following Rahane's departure, after his strong red-ball performance and recent Test recall.

Amidst speculation about India's next ODI captain, Aakash Chopra has dismissed rumors linking Shreyas Iyer to the role. Chopra asserts that Shubman Gill is the likely successor to Rohit Sharma, already holding vice-captaincy in ODIs and leading in Tests. Gill's rise has also shifted Axar Patel from T20 vice-captaincy, solidifying Gill's position as the heir apparent for India's white-ball leadership.

South African batting legend AB de Villiers has labelled Shreyas Iyer's omission from India's Asia Cup squad as "weird", hinting that the decision may have been shaped by considerations beyond just on-field form and performance.

Sanjay Manjrekar has criticised the Indian selection committee's approach of rewarding players for Test performances with T20I spots, deeming it illogical. He questioned Shubman Gill's inclusion in the Asia Cup squad while expressing shock over Shreyas Iyer's exclusion despite his outstanding IPL form and recent displays of maturity in other formats.

Former Australia wicketkeeper and Punjab Kings assistant coach Brad Haddin has criticised Shreyas Iyer's exclusion from India's Asia Cup 2025 squad, calling it an “extraordinary selection.” Haddin highlighted Iyer's leadership and performance under pressure, expressing surprise at the decision. Iyer recently led Punjab Kings to the IPL 2025 final with a strong batting performance.

Vijay Dahiya acknowledges Shreyas Iyer's unfortunate Asia Cup omission, highlighting India's strong bench strength. Despite Iyer's and Siraj's omission, Dahiya believes India faces minimal threat in the Asia Cup, but emphasized the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket. Jasprit Bumrah's return is welcomed, with cautious workload management expected, while Mohammed Siraj's absence is attributed to post-Test series fatigue.

Former cricketer Manoj Tiwary has called for BCCI to live stream selection meetings to improve transparency. This demand follows controversy over the exclusion of Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal from the Asia Cup squad.

Manoj Tiwary questions the India-Pakistan Asia Cup match appropriateness after the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor, emphasizing human life's value over sports. He also expressed surprise over Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal's exclusion from the Asia Cup squad, despite their strong performances.

Sadagoppan Ramesh has ignited controversy by alleging that Gautam Gambhir didn't support Shreyas Iyer's Asia Cup inclusion, despite Iyer's stellar form, including a strong IPL and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy performance. Ramesh also questioned the praise surrounding India's drawn Test series in England and highlighted Iyer's pivotal role in the Champions Trophy victory, where he was India's top scorer.

Dinesh Karthik has voiced his strong disapproval of Shreyas Iyer's exclusion from India's 2025 Asia Cup squad, deeming it somewhat unjust. Iyer's impressive IPL 2025 performance, where he scored 604 runs, seemingly wasn't enough to secure him a spot, even among the reserves. Karthik emphasizes Iyer's leadership and batting prowess under pressure, suggesting his omission is a missed opportunity.

Asia Cup 2025: Shreyas Iyer's father, Santosh, has urged the selectors to give his son an opportunity in the T20I format. He revealed that Shreyas was gutted after missing out on a place in the Asia Cup squad.

Ajinkya Rahane has relinquished his captaincy of Mumbai's domestic cricket team, aiming to foster new leadership while continuing as a player across all formats. Rahane led Mumbai to victory in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy last season and expressed his commitment to contribute to the team's future success. Mumbai has potential captaincy candidates like Shreyas Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav.

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali expressed shock over the exclusion of Shreyas Iyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj, and Mohammed Shami from India's Asia Cup squad. Ali believes Iyer's omission is particularly unjust, stating that in Pakistan, these players would be top-tier.

Astrologer Greenstone Lobo predicts Shubman Gill will be a prolific run-scorer for India, possessing a "phenomenal horoscope." While Gill's leadership has shown promise, Lobo suggests his captaincy might not immediately translate to major ICC trophy wins.

The BCCI selection panel, led by Ajit Agarkar, announced India's squad for the Asia Cup 2025, naming Suryakumar Yadav as captain and Shubman Gill as vice-captain. The exclusion of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer has raised eyebrows, with Madan Lal questioning Jaiswal's omission and Hardik Pandya's changed role.

While Shubman Gill is being groomed as a future leader, Ambati Rayudu believes Shreyas Iyer should be India's next ODI captain. Rayudu cites Iyer's calmness and success leading KKR to an IPL title, along with his ability to guide underdog teams. Iyer's consistent ODI performance, including a strong Champions Trophy and World Cup, further strengthens Rayudu's argument.

Former India captain Kris Srikkanth has criticised selection committee chief Ajit Agarkar over Shreyas Iyer's omission from the Asia Cup squad. Iyer was among the notable omissions in the 15-man squad, led by Suryakumar Yadav. 

Despite Shreyas Iyer's impressive performances in the ICC Champions Trophy, IPL, and domestic red-ball season, Aakash Chopra suggests a Test call-up isn't imminent. Chopra highlights that players like Karun Nair, Sarfaraz Khan, and Dhruv Jurel are ahead in the queue.