Asia Cup 2025: "If aggression on the field doesn't translate into bad behaviour, it's not a problem" - Ex-India spinner on Shreyas Iyer's snub

Published - 10 Sept 2025, 12:19 IST | Updated - 10 Sept 2025, 12:30 IST

Former India spinner Maninder Singh said that he was surprised not to see Shreyas Iyer in India's squad for the 2025 Asia Cup. The 60-year-old failed to comprehend how the Mumbai batter gets dropped every now and then from the Indian team.

Shreyas had a fantastic Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season, as he finished among the highest run-scorers in the tournament, also leading Punjab Kings to the final for the first time since 2014. Many believed that Shreyas should have been picked in India's side for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England. However, he didn't get the much-awaited Test recall.

Fans and experts, however, believed that Shreyas would make an international comeback during the Asia Cup. Maninder opined that Shreyas' aggressive demeanour could be coming in the way of his selection to the Indian team. However, the former cricketer said that the aggression helps him win matches on his own and as long as it doesn't translate into bad behaviour, there shouldn't be a problem.

“I'm very surprised. I really don’t know why he keeps getting dropped every time. I can understand, and people have told me that he's a little aggressive. But that’s what makes him the player he is. That aggression helps him win matches on his own,” Maninder Singh told India Today.

“If someone’s aggressive on the field, that doesn’t mean it’s a problem - especially if it’s not translating into bad behaviour. He might not be saying hello to you every time he sees you. But maybe he’s just in his own zone, focused on the game, thinking about how to perform in different situations. That’s part of being a top athlete. I said this about 6-7 years ago that he should be the next captain of India. I just love the way he plays cricket,” he added.

Ravi Ashwin points at lack of competition in Asia Cup 2025

It is interesting to note that Shreyas hasn't even been named among the reserve players for India in the Asia Cup.