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Xtra Time Web Desk: Former India captain and former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has strongly backed Shreyas Iyer for a return to all formats, emphasizing the batter’s remarkable improvement over the past year. Ganguly's endorsement comes after Iyer's match-winning performance for Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their 11-run victory over Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, March 25.  

Iyer, who has not been awarded a central contract by the BCCI and currently plays only one format consistently, once again proved his worth with a scintillating unbeaten 97 off just 42 balls. His innings, studded with five fours and nine sixes, helped PBKS post a formidable 244-run target, which GT fell short of despite a spirited chase, finishing at 232/5.  

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Shreyas iyer the most improved batsman in last 1 yr .. ready for all formats . Great to see his improvement after a few issues on length @ShreyasIyer15 @bcci

— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) March 25, 2025

Taking to X, Ganguly hailed Iyer’s progress, stating, “Shreyas Iyer the most improved batsman in last 1 yr .. ready for all formats. Great to see his improvement after a few issues on length.”  

Despite being a key player in India’s ODI setup and even finishing as the top run-scorer in India’s victorious Champions Trophy campaign, Iyer has struggled to cement his place in Tests and T20Is. His exclusion from BCCI’s annual contract list had raised eyebrows, but performances like these only strengthen the argument for his all-format return.  

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With Ganguly’s public support and Iyer’s current form, the calls for his reintegration into all three formats are only growing louder. His next challenge comes on April 1 when PBKS face Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Cricket Stadium.