Shreyas Iyer Declined West Zone Captaincy Ahead Of Asia Cup Snub, Report Claims

Cricket fans have been buzzing over Shreyas Iyer's surprising omission from India's Asia Cup 2025 squad. Now, new details are emerging about his recent decision to turn down the captaincy of West Zone in the prestigious Duleep Trophy tournament — a move reportedly linked to his anticipation of a national call-up that never came.

Turning Down The Captaincy

According to a report by The Times of India, Shreyas Iyer was the first choice to lead the West Zone team in the upcoming Duleep Trophy scheduled for early September. However, he declined the offer, citing hopes of making it into India's Asia Cup squad. The selectors then approached Shardul Thakur, Iyer's teammate from Mumbai and India, who gladly accepted the leadership role.

Despite rejecting the captaincy, Iyer remained open to playing in the tournament as a squad member. The Duleep Trophy semi-finals run from September 4 to 7, overlapping with the Asia Cup which starts on September 9 in the UAE. Had Iyer been selected for Asia Cup, his availability during the Duleep Trophy final stages would have been compromised.

Asia Cup Snub Raises Questions

The omission of Iyer from India’s 15-player Asia Cup squad surprised many. The 30-year-old had a stellar IPL 2025 season, scoring 604 runs at an extraordinary strike rate of 175, and led Punjab Kings to the final after a decade-long wait. Yet, he was not in the main squad or even among the five reserves.

Ajit Agarkar, BCCI’s chief selector, called Iyer "unlucky" but stressed that the middle-order is settled and there was no place for him amid fierce competition.

Support From The Cricket Fraternity

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar expressed shock over Iyer’s exclusion. On his Instagram, he praised Iyer's recent performances, especially in the ODI series against England, saying:

"Shreyas did not put a foot wrong in his comeback series and carried that form into the IPL. I don’t think any batter had that kind of consistent performance this IPL season."

Manjrekar questioned the logic of leaving out such an in-form player for a tournament where his skills are very much required.

Iyer’s Preparation And Focus

Reports indicate that Iyer had begun white-ball training with his personal coach Pravin Amre at the Mumbai Cricket Association indoor facility and the Cricket Club of India. His aim was to prepare fully for any international opportunity.

Some media have speculated that Iyer sought to focus exclusively on international duties rather than dividing attention between domestic captaincy and national aspirations.

West Zone’s Duleep Trophy Squad

What Lies Ahead

Shreyas Iyer’s path still holds opportunities. The national selectors have not closed the door on him, with potential inclusion in future T20I and ODI lineups. The Duleep Trophy platform remains valuable for making a strong case for re-entry into the Indian squad.

Iyer’s decision to forego captaining West Zone underscores the complex balancing act top players perform between domestic and international commitments, and the uncertainty that can come with selection dynamics.