Cricketers suffer loss of form or fitness in their careers from time to time. It’s an inseparable part of sports. Shreyas Iyer’s problem was different. At 29 years of age, he had lost the trust of the authorities who run the game in the country. Around this time last year, the BCCI left Iyer and Ishan Kishan out of the list of centrally contracted players for neglecting domestic games.
Hailed a special talent soon after he started playing for Mumbai, Iyer already had a century on Test debut under his belt, other than a string of strong ODI performances, which played a part in India reaching the 2023 World Cup final. Not everybody’s favourite for a Test berth, according to many, he was an automatic choice for ODIs, who could also be considered for T20Is.
They say winning back trust is more difficult than earning it the first time. Iyer started from scratch, after having been an India and IPL star. After plundering runs in the domestic events, he is back where he belongs. India’s highest-scorer in the victorious Champions Trophy campaign, who has made the ODI No. 4 spot his own, he is also leading a bull run by Punjab Kings in the ongoing IPL.
Ticking the boxes in captaincy
He is a proven leader in this format, having led Kolkata Knight Riders to the title last year. He also captained Mumbai to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy this season. Iyer’s bowling changes and tweaks in field placements have often drawn the attention of experts. Even in IPL 2025, his handling of the bowlers and decision-making under pressure has come in for praise. Chasing a first-ever title, this franchise is in the leading pack with 10 points after seven games.
“I’m a liberating captain. I just let the players be,” Iyer had told ESPN Cricinfo earlier this year. “I don’t have a set group (of players) who I chill with or that I love to hang out with. I love players to be themselves. I don’t want them to behave in any particular way. But when we are on the field, I want each and every individual to have the same mindset and the same motto: winning and contributing towards the team’s benefit.”
Fighting inner demons and breaking free
Other than marshalling resources on the field, the 30-year-old has also had to fight inner demons. A BCCI contract snub for not prioritising domestic events was a harsh lesson and a return to the basics after flying high with the Indian team. It could even have been demoralising. But, Iyer took it as a wake-up call and won back his place. That must be as satisfying as the feeling he derives from bulldozing attacks in these conditions.
After seven innings in IPL 2025 so far, Iyer is averaging 51.40 and striking at 194.69. Nicholas Pooran is topping the chart for hitting sixes with 31. The PKBS skipper is second with 20. He is the leading scorer for his franchise and around him, uncapped batters like Shashank Singh and Priyasnh Arya have prospered. He seldom looks agitated while dealing with his bowlers. Iyer’s presence and performance has visibly lifted the team.
RCB eye another away win, but can they counter PBKS’ spin threat? Analyst’s playbook for success ahead of the high-stakes New Chandigarh showdown. #PBKSvsRCB #IPL2025 @TrishaGhosal writes.@RCBTweets https://t.co/bhVrT5SdVw
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) April 20, 2025
Return to Test cricket? Let them talk
This recent run of success is likely to get him into discussions when the selectors pick the squad for the Test series in England starting in June. Not just in the IPL or ODIs, Iyer had made nearly 500 runs in five Ranji Trophy games at 68.57 when he was asked to play those games. Over five Tests in England, the middle-order will require reinforcements and Iyer may feature among the options.
However, considering his none-too-striking returns in the longest format (811 runs from 14 Tests at 36.86) and that he was not picked for the last 13 Tests India played, it’s premature to speculate a return. Contenders like Karun Nair have probably made a bigger impact and Iyer in Test cricket isn’t as big an influence as he is in the shorter formats.
That doesn’t change the present, where Iyer is burning bright after having overcome a bad phase in a resounding manner. He didn’t speak a lot about being ‘disciplined by the parent body’, and did what worked best for him. Place in the ODI XI cemented, he is in the race for a place in the T20I middle-order, where faces frequently keep changing. Test comeback? In all likelihood, Iyer would like to stay in the present.