Shreyas Iyer's Test Debut Delayed: Competition Stiff, Says Aakash Chopra

Shreyas Iyer's Test Debut on Hold, Says Former Indian Opener

Former India opener Aakash Chopra has tempered expectations regarding Shreyas Iyer's inclusion in the Indian Test squad in the near future. Despite the 30-year-old's impressive performances across all formats recently, Chopra suggests that the competition for a Test spot is fierce.

Shreyas Iyer (AP Photo)

While Iyer was a standout performer in India's victorious ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign and enjoyed a successful run in both the IPL and the domestic red-ball season, Chopra believes several other players are ahead of him in the pecking order for Test selection.

"Shreyas Iyer won’t get a chance now. Many others haven’t gotten a chance either," Chopra stated on his YouTube channel. He further elaborated, "If you think about it, Karun Nair has only just gotten his chance. Sarfaraz Khan hasn’t been given a shot. Dhruv Jurel is waiting on the sidelines. If he cannot even get among those who are in the waiting line, then how can he be considered for selection?"

Iyer's recent form has been remarkable. He amassed 480 runs in just seven innings during the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season, boasting an average of 68.57 and a strike rate exceeding 90. This was followed by a career-best IPL season where he scored 604 runs in 17 matches and led Punjab Kings to their first final in nine years.

Despite these achievements, Chopra emphasized the importance of patience for red-ball opportunities. "I know he had a good first-class season. He had a good IPL, took Punjab Kings to the final, did well in white-ball cricket — but his time will come in Tests. He will have to wait just a little bit."

Meanwhile, Sarfaraz Khan, another strong contender, continues to impress. After scoring three fifties and a century in six Tests, he further solidified his claim with a score of 92 for India A against England Lions, followed by a century in the intra-squad match preceding the England series.