Why Shreyas Iyer deserves an immediate spot in the Indian T20 team—R Ashwin explains
Whether it is the 2025 IPL or the ongoing 2026 season, Shreyas Iyer is currently in "his absolute best zone," and this is clearly evident in both his form and the results achieved by the Punjab Kings.
R Ashwin has suggested that Iyer deserves a spot in India's T20 squad, even if it remains unclear whose place he would take. S
peaking on ESPN Cricinfo's 'Time Out' show, Ashwin remarked, "I am not merely looking at the runs scored or the boundaries hit; rather, I am observing the impact of his presence on the field. When Shreyas Iyer marks his guard, it feels as though he has entered a 'zone'—a state that a cricketer experiences for perhaps only a year or two in their entire career—during which it feels as though you simply cannot make a mistake."
Ashwin explained that this happens precisely because you are 'in the zone. "Everything aligns perfectly—from your diet and sleep schedule to the way you train. The very deliveries you face in the nets seem to be the exact ones you encounter in the actual match," Ashwin said.
In his last three innings, Iyer has posted scores of 50, an unbeaten 69, and 66; currently, his strike rate in the 2026 IPL stands at an impressive 187.96.
Ashwin added, "His mere presence at the crease is, in many ways, instilling fear in the minds of the bowlers. His hunger for self-improvement is truly remarkable. I feel that Shreyas has embarked on the journey from good to great. I am not claiming that he is already great—rather, it is a process, a journey. It was once said that he couldn't handle the short ball. He responded, ‘Fine, I might get dismissed playing the pull shot in a Test match, but I will not back down from the challenge.’ To pull a delivery from Jasprit Bumrah over mid-wicket for a six—that is something truly inspiring for many players."
Ashwin said, “At this moment, if he isn't receiving major opportunities, it is not his loss. It is our loss. Furthermore, he is now hitting fast bowlers straight back down the ground. He has always possessed the ability to do this. But why is he doing it now? Because bowlers are no longer daring to bowl short deliveries to him; they know he will simply smash them. And that is magnificent.”