Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has come out in strong support of middle-order batsman Shreyas Iyer, calling his continued exclusion from the Indian T20I team “unfair,” as Iyer continues to demonstrate his leadership abilities as captain of the Punjab Kings in the current Indian Premier League season.
In a recent in-depth analysis of the current season with Sportstar, Manjrekar stated that, considering Iyer’s current form, whatever animosity he may have over the “raw deal” he got from national selection is totally understandable.
“They decided not to give him a contract, and that may have hurt him,” Manjrekar noted during the podcast. “He started turning up for Mumbai and then made a comeback for India against England in a one-day series, culminating in the Champions Trophy where he was superb. Then came this IPL performance, yet he still wasn’t picked.”
Iyer earlier disclosed that he lost both his central contract and his spot in the Indian team due to a lack of communication and ongoing physical problems. He did, however, lead the Delhi Capitals to their first-ever IPL final in 2020, the Kolkata Knight Riders to the championship in 2024, and the Punjab Kings to the final in 2025. His record as captain continues to bolster his credentials. He has led PBKS comfortably at the top of the table for the 2026 season.
“If that performance doesn’t get you into the Indian team, a player like Shreyas Iyer, down the order, because those are the difficult positions, it is just unfair,” Manjrekar added. “If he has that angst toward someone for giving him that kind of a deal, I think it’s valid.”
Iyer has been batting brilliantly for PBKS, scoring 208 runs at an explosive strike rate of 182.46 and an average of 52. Three half-centuries are included in this total, all of which contributed to successful run chases. He has been the tournament’s top performer due to his ability to finish games while exerting leadership pressure.
Punjab Kings will next play the Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on April 25.
