Archive · 16 Sep 2026
Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya Fuel India Cricket Search Surge
Many people in India searched for cricketers Shreyas Iyer and Hardik Pandya.
Searches for Iyer rose more sharply than searches for Pandya.
Iyer’s name became popular after India moved 2-0 ahead against Afghanistan in a T20I series.
He was leading India in that series.
Iyer is also expected to play a leadership role at the Asian Games.
Because of that, he may miss India’s upcoming ODI matches against the West Indies.
Pandya is attracting attention because selectors are considering player availability for those matches.
He is expected to return to competitive white-ball cricket around September 20.
Shreyas Iyer recorded 2,000-plus searches in India, up 500%, according to Google Trends.
Hardik Pandya exceeded 1,000 searches, with interest rising 75%.
Iyer’s searches increased after India took a 2-0 lead over Afghanistan in a T20I series under his captaincy.
Iyer is expected to miss India’s West Indies ODIs because of Asian Games commitments.
Hardik’s potential return around September 20 has drawn attention ahead of India’s West Indies ODI series beginning September 27.
- Who
- Indian cricketers Shreyas Iyer and Hardik Pandya, with India’s selectors considering upcoming squad choices.
- What
- Google searches for Iyer and Pandya surged in India amid captaincy, selection and availability discussions.
- When
- The search snapshot was taken after interest had begun roughly one hour earlier for Iyer and three hours earlier for Pandya; selectors were due to meet on September 16, with the ODI series beginning September 27.
- Where
- The search interest was recorded in India, while the upcoming series is between India and the West Indies.
- Why
- The increases were linked to India’s Afghanistan T20I series, Iyer’s Asian Games commitments and questions about Pandya’s availability for the West Indies ODIs.
- Shreyas Iyer searches
- 2,000-plus searches; up 500%
- Hardik Pandya searches
- 1,000-plus searches; up 75%
- Afghanistan T20I series
- India led 2-0 after winning the second match by seven wickets
- Selection meeting
- India’s national selectors were scheduled to meet on September 16
- West Indies ODI series
- Three matches scheduled to begin September 27
- Iyer’s expected availability
- Expected to miss the West Indies ODIs because of Asian Games commitments
- Pandya’s expected return
- Expected to return to competitive white-ball cricket around September 20