The cricketing community is abuzz with intense discussions and spirited debates following the recent announcement of India’s squad for the upcoming three Tests against England by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Notably, the exclusion of Shreyas Iyer, who displayed a lukewarm performance with the bat in the initial two Tests, has evoked a myriad of reactions on social media and left fans with a complex mix of emotions.
The squad announcement and Shreyas Iyer’s exclusion
As far as the 17-member squad unveiled by the BCCI for the upcoming Tests against England is concerned, it welcomed back the injured Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul. Additionally, Mohammed Siraj, who was rested for the second Test, reclaimed his spot. Excitement also surrounded the maiden call-up for young pacer Akash Deep. However, it was Iyer’s absence that stole the spotlight and raised eyebrows.
The reason behind omission: Injury or performance?
Speculation about Iyer’s potential injury circulated before the squad announcement, with reports suggesting back spasms. However, the BCCI’s press release offered no insight into Iyer’s medical condition, fueling suspicions that his exclusion might be performance-related.
Iyer’s batting woes
Despite being part of the first two Tests, Iyer failed to make a significant impact with the bat, failing to register a fifty in the four innings. While his fielding prowess and agility were commendable, his inability to convert promising starts into substantial scores seems to have cost him a spot in India’s squad
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As the news of Iyer’s exclusion spread across social media platforms, fans unleashed a wave of diverse opinions. Some applauded the decision, citing Iyer’s recent batting struggles, while others rallied behind the talented cricketer, insisting that he deserved another chance.
Support and criticism
Supporters of Iyer argued that his performance, though not exemplary, was on par with or better than some retained players like Rohit Sharma and KS Bharat. Critics, on the other hand, pointed to Iyer’s inconsistency and suggested that the decision was justified based on recent form.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
When you realize Shreyas Iyer scored more runs than Rohit Sharma and KS Bharat in first two Tests but has still been dropped by the BCCI #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/Sqx1mtJ8OC
— Dialectical Guy (@dialecticalguy) February 10, 2024
Shreyas Iyer must be happy his back injury got disappeared in 24 hours, but at the cost of his place in the side. Very expensive treatment.
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) February 10, 2024
A fan should never behave like a blind follower, so I’m saying that it’s true that Shreyas Iyer has been dropped. This seems to be the new approach of our Indian team, to drop even big players without paying attention to certain things. Regarding KKR’s captaincy, Shreyas Iyer… pic.twitter.com/cEIEVzCNxn
— Swapnil Vats (@iamswapnilvats) February 10, 2024
Shreyas Iyer has been dropped from Tests after his poor run in the format
His last 13 innings in Tests
29*, 4, 12, 0, 26, 31, 6, 0, 4, 35, 13, 27, 29#INDvsENG | #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/7izMpNz0wu— Don Cricket 🏏 (@doncricket_) February 10, 2024
Iyer drop ho sakta hai to rohit kyo nahi 🤔
— Sanaya Chaudhary (@Sanaya_183) February 10, 2024
Run made by
Rohit sharma in first two test matches: 90
KS Bharat in first two test matches: 92
Shreyas Iyer in first two test matches: 104If shreyas was dropped for his performances, our captain should not have place in the team but we know bcci very well🙂🔥
#INDvsENG https://t.co/XThsFeIEwZ— Harsha Achanta (@TheHarsha1) February 10, 2024
Will always remain a mystery as to why he was picked, to begin with https://t.co/2lJZxeBMit
— Ayush (@ayushstweets) February 10, 2024
— shreyaaji🏵️ (@meinhekyu) February 10, 2024
Ranji Trophy calling him
— Don Cricket 🏏 (@doncricket_) February 10, 2024
Scored better than a guy who using cap quota and still in the team 🚶 https://t.co/j0MKLjjraQ
— Avi_nash (@im_avi_nash_) February 10, 2024
Wonderful pic.twitter.com/ySp5wApIQC
— Hritik Chauhan (@hritikeleven) February 10, 2024
BCCI needs to improve the way they communicate to the fans. You can’t always say “he has a back spasm” when you want to drop somebody. Be clear on why the particular player wasn’t selected and all these speculations/reports won’t be published. https://t.co/V8Nls3glbh
— Thomas Shelby (@SnarkyScribe) February 10, 2024