New Delhi, Aug 22 (PTI) - India’s cricket scene is as competitive as ever, with former wicketkeeper Vijay Dahiya noting the robust bench strength that leads to talented players occasionally being omitted from key tournaments.
Shreyas Iyer, a notable exclusion from India’s 15-member Asia Cup squad recently announced by the BCCI, was one such talent. While this decision sparked criticism from various former players, Iyer's performance history illustrates why his absence is felt.
Iyer led Kolkata Knight Riders to an IPL title in 2024, and during the 2025 IPL season, he amassed over 600 runs at a remarkable strike rate of 175, leading the Punjab Kings to their second final. Despite these achievements, Dahiya mentioned the inevitability of some players not making the squad, highlighting India’s extensive talent pool.
“Once the team is picked, we cannot say much about it. Whenever any Indian team is picked, some players will always miss out. The bench strength we have is such that we can field two separate teams, but some players will always be left out,” Dahiya shared with PTI Videos, acknowledging the challenges of selection amidst such talent.
Unfortunately for Iyer, he was not even named as part of the reserves.
Iyer, who has accumulated 1,104 runs across 51 T20Is for India at an average of 30.66 and a strike rate of 136.12, last played in a T20I match against Australia in December 2023. His IPL leadership is also noteworthy, having guided Delhi Capitals to the playoffs in 2019 and to their maiden final in 2020, before his recent triumph with KKR.
On a brighter note for Indian cricket, pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is set to make his return to India's white-ball setup since the 2024 T20 World Cup absence. Though he has only played in Test matches since, his inclusion in the Asia Cup squad brings a strategic advantage.
However, Dahiya predicts that Bumrah might be selective about his participation in the Asia Cup matches due to workload management. “I feel that there will be many such matches where he (Bumrah) might not play and feature only in those crunch matches, and we can manage his workload there,” he explained.
Another standout pacer, Mohammed Siraj, was also left out of the Asia Cup squad. Dahiya believes this decision was made with Siraj’s workload in mind, following a demanding tour of England.
“When you talk about the workload, then it's not only for Bumrah, it is also for Siraj,” Dahiya added, emphasizing the intensity and quality of Siraj’s bowling in England.
Looking ahead, Dahiya is optimistic about India’s Asia Cup prospects, identifying them as clear favorites. He suggested that India's main threat would come from having an off-day or facing an exceptional performance from an opponent.
“There is not much threat in the Asia Cup for India, but T20 is a format that changes quickly,” he concluded. “India will lose only if we have a bad day or someone plays exceptional cricket.”
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