"Main selector nahi hoon": Gautam Gambhir responds to Shreyas Iyer's omission from India's Test squad

India’s newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir has made headlines with a blunt and fiery response to questions surrounding the exclusion of middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer from the Indian Test squad for the upcoming tour of England. As the team gears up for a five-match Test series beginning June 20, Gambhir was in the spotlight during an interaction at the Goswami Ganesh Dutt Memorial Cricket Tournament, where he addressed growing scrutiny over squad decisions.

When asked pointedly why Iyer was overlooked for the prestigious red-ball series, Gambhir did not mince words. “Main selector nahin hoon (I am not the selector),” he said, making it clear that player selection lies squarely in the hands of the selection committee, not the coaching staff.

Iyer’s ongoing exclusion sparks debate

Shreyas Iyer has been on the fringes of India’s Test setup since February 2024, when he last featured in the format during the early stages of the England series at home. His struggles in the initial matches reportedly influenced his omission from the rest of the series. However, Iyer made a strong case for a comeback with an impressive domestic season, scoring 480 runs at an average of 68.57 across six Ranji Trophy games.

Despite that domestic resurgence, selectors have opted to move forward without the 30-year-old, prompting fans and pundits to question the rationale behind his exclusion, especially given the significant transitions the Test side is undergoing.

The backdrop to this controversy is a rapidly evolving Indian Test team. With senior stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli stepping away from red-ball cricket, a new leadership era has dawned. Shubman Gill, still only 25, has been named Test captain and is expected to take on the crucial No. 4 batting position.

Interestingly, Gambhir and Iyer were seen as a formidable pairing just weeks ago in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, where Gambhir mentored the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Iyer captained them to a triumphant third title. Their success, however, didn’t translate into long-term continuity. KKR opted not to retain Iyer, and Gambhir, in a major career move, took over as India’s head coach following Rahul Dravid’s departure.