Fri Feb 07 10:31:35 UTC 2025: **Ponting Baffled by Iyer’s Omission from Indian White-Ball Team**
**Cuttack, India –** Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has expressed his astonishment at Shreyas Iyer’s inconsistent inclusion in India’s white-ball team. Ponting highlighted Iyer’s strong performance in the recent World Cup, where he scored 530 runs, and his recent impressive form in domestic cricket, including two centuries in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and a rapid 36-ball 59 against England.
The Punjab Kings coach believes Iyer’s ability to dominate spin bowling makes him particularly well-suited to subcontinental conditions and predicts he will excel in the upcoming Champions Trophy. Ponting’s surprise stems from Iyer’s omission from the team in recent years, despite his consistent success, punctuated only by a back injury.
“I’ve been a little bit surprised that he’s been out of India’s side,” Ponting stated, adding that Iyer’s domestic form has been “brilliant” since the IPL auction. Ponting’s comments are significant given his recent acquisition of Iyer for a substantial ₹26.75 crore for the Punjab Kings. He expressed his delight at having Iyer in the team, emphasizing his belief in the batsman’s exceptional talent.
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