“In form and can deliver…”: Gautam Gambhir takes U-turn on Shreyas Iyer’s selection for the England Test tour

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With India’s Test tour of England is around the corner, team selection has again stirred debate particularly around the omission of middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer. While head coach Gautam Gambhir had initially distanced himself from the decision with a witty reply, stating that he wasn’t involved in the selection process, his latest remarks mark a noticeable shift in tone.

A week ago, when Gambhir was asked about Iyer’s omission from the Test squad, he gave a blunt reply: “Main selector nahi hoon” (I’m not the selector). The reply quickly became a hot topic on social media, with many netizens interpreting it as a deliberate ignorance of Iyer.

Now, ahead of India’s departure for England, Gambhir said that selection should remain open to players who are in good form and capable of delivering. While acknowledging the limitation of picking only 18 players, he indicated that form and performance should always be considered, suggesting a more flexible stance than his earlier comments.

“Anyone can be called if they are in good form. We can only pick 18. But I believe it’s always about being open to people who are in good form and can deliver,” Gambhir told reporters.

Also READ: Gautam Gambhir and Shubman Gill differ over Sai Sudharsan’s selection for the Test series against England: Report

Iyer’s exclusion from India’s Test squad for the upcoming five-match series in England sparked a flurry of reactions on social media last week. Iyer has been in scintillating touch in domestic cricket and the IPL which became a point of discussion. He has scored over 600 runs in IPL 2025 and took his side to the final. Iyer was among the top performers in the Ranji Trophy last season scoring 480 runs at an impressive average of 68.57 in seven innings. Moreover, Iyer was also the highest run-scorer for India in the Champions Trophy 2025, playing several match-winning innings during the team’s title-winning campaign.

Also READ: Shreyas Iyer’s sister shares a heartfelt message dedicated to Punjab Kings captain and his team