Duleep Trophy: Shreyas Iyer Not in BCCI Plans for WTC Cycle After Careless Choices

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Shreyas Iyer's aspirations of making a comeback to India's Test cricket setup have taken a significant hit following his recent performances in the Duleep Trophy.

The star batter, who was left out of the squad for the first Test against Bangladesh, has struggled to find his form, scoring only 104 runs in four innings during the tournament.

A Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) official expressed concern over Iyer's recent shot selection, particularly in his dismissal against left-arm spinner Shams Mulani. "At the moment, there's no room for Shreyas to be in the Test team. Who will he replace? Besides, his shot selection has been a concern in Duleep, especially yesterday (Sunday). He was well set and then suddenly played such a shot. When you are set and batting on a flat deck, you need to make the best use of that opportunity," the official remarked.

Another BCCI official suggested that Iyer might not be considered for the upcoming five-match Test series against Australia later this year, noting his ongoing struggle with short-pitched deliveries - a common challenge on Australian pitches.

The official said, "Now, if he doesn't fire in Irani too, he still has the Ranji Trophy to get runs. It wasn't too many days ago when he was batting so well in last year's ODI World Cup. He suffered an injury too, which needs to be considered. Also, with still one round left in Duleep, you never know he might score a hundred. He needs to regain form. Most likely he won't go to Australia for his problems against the short ball, but one can't just ignore his runs at home."

Iyer, once considered a strong contender for India's middle-order, has now fallen behind in the pecking order. Young talents like Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel, who shone during the England series earlier this year, have made their mark, and with established players like Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul returning to the squad, Iyer's place looks increasingly uncertain.

With India preparing for a packed World Test Championship (WTC) schedule, including series against Bangladesh, New Zealand, and Australia, Iyer's exclusion is a clear indication that the BCCI is looking towards other options for the long run.

However, all is not lost for the 29-year-old batter. However, the Irani Cup, which begins on October 1, a strong performance there could potentially open doors for him. Iyer is expected to be part of the Mumbai squad for in the domestic circuit, with the Ranji Trophy providing another platform to showcase his talent.