Indian selectors will have their work cut out in picking a quality team for the upcoming tour of England after the retirement of two stalwarts – Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Kohli’s retirement has left a huge void at number four and Shreyas Iyer could be one of the candidates for the spot.

However, according to an BCCI official, Iyer’s chances of returning back to the Test team are bleak. Iyer has been found wanting against the short ball though he has worked on his weakness in the recent past.

The official said the Mumbai batter could have been in the reckoning if India had been playing at home but as the ball swings and seams in English conditions, he might not make the cut into the Indian squad.

“If India were to play a home series, Shreyas’s chances of selection would have been fine. But on an overseas tour, against the quicks, his chances don’t really look great. See, the general feeling is that he still needs to work a little bit on his red-ball game. Yes, he has been doing a brilliant job in limited overs, adapting excellently to situations. But Test cricket is a different ballgame,” A BCCI official told Telegraph India.

“The short-ball aside, there will be a lot more swing and movement in England, which makes it imperative to leave the ball as well. Leaving the ball is very important when it comes to batting in England,” the BCCI official added.

Iyer last played a Test match for India in the home series against England in 2024 and he was dropped after the second Test at Visakhapatnam. 

The right-hander scored 480 runs at an average of 68.57 in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy after BCCI contract snub. However, Iyer was added to the BCCI contract list after he performed consistently.