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Sourav Ganguly, the former captain of the Indian cricket team, expressed his disapproval regarding the decision to omit Shreyas Iyer from the upcoming Test series against England. Shreyas has experienced a remarkable year, having been the leading run-scorer for Punjab Kings in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL). With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma absent, many viewed Shreyas as a prime candidate for a middle-order position; however, he was ultimately not selected for the final team. Ganguly is of the opinion that Shreyas deserved a spot on the squad given his recent performances, emphasizing that he is not just another player left off the roster. “He has shown exceptional form over the past year and should be part of this team. His performance has been outstanding. He is capable of scoring under pressure, taking on responsibilities, and handling the short ball effectively. While Test cricket offers a different challenge, I would have included him in this series to assess his capabilities,” Ganguly remarked.
In other news, teenage fast bowler Eddie Jack has received an "invitation to practice" with England’s senior team as they prepare for the first Test against India, following his impressive displays for the Lions in two four-day matches against India A, according to reports. India is set to begin their new World Test Championship cycle with a five-match series against England, starting with the first match at Headingley on June 20.
The 19-year-old seamer from Hampshire caught the eye of selectors by taking the wicket of KL Rahul, an established Indian batter who had scored a century in the first innings of their drawn second unofficial Test at Northampton. Standing at 6 feet 4 inches tall, Jack has left a strong impression on the England Lions’ coaching staff, including notable figures such as Andrew Flintoff, Mark Wood, and Graeme Swann, as reported by The Times in London.
Though he has yet to make his County Championship debut for Hampshire, Jack has already played two first-class matches against India A and previously represented England’s U-19 team earlier this year in South Africa. Additionally, he achieved five wickets in a warm-up match against Zimbabwe while playing for a combined counties XI. In Northampton, Jack regularly challenged the batting of Indian Test players, including Nitish Reddy and Dhruv Jurel. He went on to dismiss Jurel, who had been named player of the match in the Ranchi Test against England in 2022, finishing with figures of 2/71 in the second innings.
