Ravichandran Ashwin, the ex-India spinner, said that crushing it in the IPL doesn’t automatically make you a Test player. He thinks Shreyas Iyer might have to wait for a Test comeback, no matter how well he does in the next IPL season.
Iyer got back on track with his ODI performances, and now everyone’s watching to see if he can get back into the Test squad.
Ashwin questioned how IPL scores could be a reason to pick someone for the Test team.
Tell me this: how does a good IPL get you a Test spot? How does doing well in the IPL prove you can play Tests? If you crush it in ODIs, people start saying you should play Tests, Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
And if you kill it in Tests, people start talking about bringing you back for T20s. Doesn’t that sound backward? A good IPL should only help your T20 game, Ashwin added.
The former India spinner cheered on Iyer’s comeback, noting he was a big reason Kolkata Knight Riders won their third title in 2024.
Iyer was called India’s unsung hero in the Champions Trophy, where he played some key innings in the middle order.
Shreyas Iyer has been great. Given how he played in the Champions Trophy, I wouldn’t be shocked if he keeps it up in the IPL. He’s an awesome player. He was vital for KKR winning the title last season, Ashwin said.
Iyer will captain the Punjab Kings in the upcoming IPL 2025. KKR let him go last year, and PBKS picked him up for a massive Rs 26.75 crore.
Having been the ‘silent hero’ at number four during the Champions Trophy, Iyer wants to make a splash at number three in IPL 2025, he mentioned.
Iyer isn’t in India’s T20 plans right now, but a strong first season for Punjab could bring his international career back to life in the T20 format.
