“If He Had Been in the Team…”: Rohit Sharma Explains Why Shreyas Iyer Is Missing from T20 World Cup 2026

Rohit Sharma, a stalwart of the Indian cricket team in all previous T20 World Cups, will experience the tournament from the sidelines for the first time. The former captain shared his thoughts on this unique situation and also explained why Shreyas Iyer, despite being a top performer in T20 cricket, has not been included in the 2026 World Cup squad.

Explaining Iyer’s Exclusion

Fans were vocal about Shreyas Iyer not being part of the team, especially after he recovered from injury. Rohit referred to the Asia Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup as examples, explaining that team balance often drives such tough decisions. Speaking on a show for JioHotstar, Rohit said,
“We felt the team needed someone who could bowl a few overs as well, which is why we included Deepak Hooda, who was in good form at the time. Shreyas may have been disappointed, but Deepak was happy. That’s how these decisions work.”

Rohit added that he and then head coach Rahul Dravid had personally called Shreyas to explain the reasoning behind the decision.

The Unique Feeling of Sitting Out

The 39-year-old former captain described how different it feels to watch a global tournament from the stands rather than playing in it.
“We used to talk at home about how strange it would feel to watch a match sitting at home. Having been part of every T20 World Cup from the start, missing it for the first time feels completely different. You realize your absence only when the World Cup is underway. Being in the stadium doesn’t give the same feeling—it’s a unique experience.”

The Toughest Part of Captaining

Rohit also reflected on the challenges of leading the Indian team, particularly the difficult decisions a captain must make.
“The biggest challenge as a captain is making tough selection calls while maintaining trust in the dressing room. Many times, you have to make hard decisions before major tournaments. You can’t make everyone happy, but it’s crucial that everyone understands the reasoning behind the decision.”

He cited examples such as leaving Shreyas Iyer out, not including Mohammed Siraj in the 2025 Champions Trophy, and excluding Yuzvendra Chahal from the 2023 ODI World Cup squad.

Confidence in Team India

Despite being on the sidelines, Rohit is confident about India’s chances in T20 World Cup 2026.
“Around 80-90% of the team is the same as the last T20 World Cup squad. They’ve played together for the last two years and understand each other’s games very well. The team’s average age is around 25, which is ideal. In a World Cup, the only goal is to win, which requires open and sometimes tough conversations within the team.”