New Delhi: Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has expressed surprise over the absence of Shreyas Iyer from India’s T20I squad, saying the country possesses such depth in the format that even a second team could compete strongly against international sides.
Following India’s triumph at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Ganguly pointed out that several high quality players were not included in the final 15 member squad. According to him, the sheer strength of India’s talent pool means that another Indian lineup could still challenge and defeat many international teams.
Among the players he mentioned were Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal, both considered among the brightest young talents in world cricket. Ganguly also referred to the presence of experienced names such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant in the broader pool, underlining the competition for places.
However, Ganguly admitted he was particularly surprised that Iyer has not been part of India’s T20I setup despite his recent performances. The middle order batter has not played a T20 international since December 2023, even though he enjoyed strong seasons in the Indian Premier League in both 2024 and 2025.
During the 2025 season, Iyer produced his best IPL campaign, scoring 604 runs at an average above 50 and a strike rate exceeding 175. Despite such numbers and leading his side to consecutive finals, he has not been recalled to the national T20I squad.
Looking ahead, Iyer is set to lead Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League 2026 season, with their campaign scheduled to begin against Gujarat Titans on March 31.
Ganguly also shared his views on India head coach Gautam Gambhir, describing him as a fierce competitor who always strives for victory. While acknowledging Gambhir’s intense approach, Ganguly noted that his focus on building a team oriented environment has benefited the Indian dressing room.
Gambhir recently became the first India head coach to guide the team to two major global titles, winning the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Ganguly believes Gambhir’s biggest challenges will come in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 in South Africa and in improving India’s performances in Test cricket in the coming years.
