Shreyas Iyer's Asia Cup Snub: Father Expresses Disappointment, Reveals Player's Stoic Reaction

Santosh Iyer on Thursday expressed disappointment over son Shreyas Iyer's exclusion from the Asia Cup squad, terming it "sad" and "unfair" and also revealed start batter's response after the snub.While Iyer, who led Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL title in 2024, was left out, and Punjab Kings to the final in 2025.“I don’t know what else Shreyas has to do to make it to the Indian T20 team," Santosh Iyer told TOI. "He has been performing so well in the IPL year after year, from Delhi Capitals to Kolkata Knight Riders to Punjab Kings, and that too as a captain."He even captained KKR to the IPL title in 2024, and led PBKS to the final this year. I’m not saying make him the Indian captain, but at least select him in the team,” he said.“However, let me tell you that even if he’s left out of the Indian team, he doesn’t show dissent on his face. He’ll just say: ‘ Mera naseeb hai (it’s my luck)! You can’t do anything now.’ He’s always cool and calm. He doesn’t blame anybody. Deep inside, he must be naturally disappointed.”Iyer, who has played 51 T20Is for India, has scored 1104 runs at an average of 30.66 and a strike rate of 136.12. His last appearance in the format came against Australia in December 2023.The Mumbai batter also has a strong leadership record in the IPL, guiding Delhi Capitals to the playoffs in 2019 and to their maiden final in 2020, before steering KKR to the title last year.Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar too criticised the selectors' decision, suggesting it signals Iyer is no longer in the reckoning for T20 cricket."I can't fathom or understand what reason could justify Shreyas Iyer not being part of the 20-member squad," Nayar told JioHotstar."I'm not even talking about the final 15, but the 20 itself, which sends a clear message, that Shreyas Iyer is not in the selectors' scheme of things, at least from a T20 perspective."