Shreyas Iyer on Verge of T20I Return for Asia Cup 2025: Report

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After a long absence from India's T20I setup, Shreyas Iyer appears set to don the national colours again in the shortest format. The 29-year-old Mumbai batter, who last represented India in a T20I on December 3, 2023, against Australia in Bengaluru, is likely to return for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE.

As per a report by Indian Express, Iyer's potential inclusion in the Asia Cup squad is the primary reason he was not named captain of the West Zone team for the upcoming Duleep Trophy.

"The reason for not naming Iyer as skipper was that the selection committee felt that he might be picked for the Asia Cup team, which is scheduled to play from September 9 onwards," the report stated.

Iyer, who has scored 1104 runs in 51 T20Is, was in sublime form during the IPL 2025 season. Turning out for Punjab Kings, he amassed 604 runs across 17 games, playing a key role in guiding the team to a runner-up finish. His aggressive middle-order batting and consistent performances made a strong case for his return to the national squad. He also showcased leadership skills during Mumbai's victorious Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign in 2024.

While Iyer is tipped for a return to international action, he has been named in the West Zone squad for the Duleep Trophy, alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sarfaraz Khan, and Tushar Deshpande. Shardul Thakur will lead the team in the zonal red-ball tournament.

The 2025 Asia Cup, which will be played in the T20 format, is scheduled from September 9 to 28 in the UAE. India will kick off their campaign against hosts UAE on September 10, followed by high-voltage clashes against Pakistan on September 14 and Oman on September 19. Should India finish in the top two of their group, they will move into the Super Fours stage. The top two sides from that round will contest the final on Sunday, September 28.

Iyer's return could boost India's middle order, which has lacked stability in recent months in the T20 format.