“I really don’t know why he keeps getting dropped every time” - Ex-Indian spinner slams Indian selectors on Shreyas Iyer’s omission

Former India spinner Maninder Singh has stated that he is surprised not to see Shreyas Iyer in the Indian T20I squad for the Asia Cup 2025 campaign, which is currently underway in the United Arab Emirates.

While speaking to India Today, Maninder also asserted that Iyer keeps getting dropped every time and he felt that aggression could be one reason behind his omission from the squad, adding that aggression helps him win matches.

“I'm very surprised. I really don’t know why he keeps getting dropped every time. I can understand, and people have told me that he's a little aggressive. But that’s what makes him the player he is. That aggression helps him win matches on his own,” Maninder Singh told India Today.

Furthermore, Maninder is also highly impressed with Iyer’s impressive leadership skills and he felt Iyer can be next white-ball captain for Team India. Notably, Iyer led the Punjab Kings franchise to the grand finale in the IPL 2025 season, but suffered a six-run loss to RCB.

“If someone’s aggressive on the field, that doesn’t mean it’s a problem - especially if it’s not translating into bad behaviour. He might not be saying hello to you every time he sees you. But maybe he’s just in his own zone, focused on the game, thinking about how to perform in different situations. That’s part of being a top athlete. I said this about 6-7 years ago that he should be the next captain of India. I just love the way he plays cricket,” he added.

“I've lost confidence that they’re going to select him now. I mean, what else does he have to do to get into the Indian T20I side? But I still believe that he's a brilliant brain, he has got a good cricketing mind and he should be our captain for white-ball cricket,” he concluded.

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