Rohan Gavaskar sheds light on Shreyas Iyer’s Test future after Mumbai batter takes a break from red-ball cricket

Former Indian batter Rohan Gavaskar said Shreyas Iyer is not going to be in contention for the West Indies Tests after the Mumbai batter has written to the BCCI not to consider him for selection. Iyer wants to take a break from the red-ball version and has revealed that his troubled back is not allowing him to field for four days.

Iyer was not included in India’s Asia Cup squad despite consistently performing in IPL 2025, where he scored 604 runs at a strike rate of 175.07. After the snub, Iyer could not get a big score in the Duleep Trophy match and also could not deliver while leading India A against Australia A in the first unofficial four-day Test in Lucknow.

Rohan Gavaskar said on Cricbuzz, “Now the selectors will know where they stand in terms of Shreyas Iyer based on what he has informed the BCCI. So he’s not going to be in the discussion or in contention for the Test team. He was practicing hard before the Asia Cup so he wanted it. But sometimes you have to listen to your body and sometimes you have to take a harsh call.”

Gavaskar reckons a modern-day player can decide to skip Test cricket as he has the option of playing the other two white-ball formats.

“And this is the good thing about 2025. You can take such calls. You can take a call of saying I am going to give up red-ball cricket and know you’ll be fine. That is a fabulous place to be in. Back in the day, you can’t take this call. You will try and fight through that pain barrier and play red-ball cricket because that was the only option other than the 50-over format.”

“Now and I am saying this as a positive, Indian cricket is at that stage where players like Shreyas can take that call where they have an option for their future in white-ball cricket. Shreyas still has a lot left in white-ball cricket. White ball is such a big part of our cricketing calendar now that it is great he has still got a lot of cricket to offer,” said Gavaskar.

Gavaskar said Iyer would have been thinking of not taking any risks with his body while playing in the red-ball version.

“He is also thinking about not risking or jeopardizing that part of his career. The basic thing for any cricketer is to get the appreciation of their skills in front of thousands in the stands and millions on TV. So he still has the opportunity to experience that, feel that and keep on playing cricket.”

The opening Test match between India and the West Indies will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, from October 2 onwards.