Aakash Chopra says Shreyas Iyer deserves to be in India’s 2025 Asia Cup squad

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra believes Shreyas Iyer deserves to be in India’s 2025 Asia Cup squad. Chopra said Iyer was the player who was hitting boundaries whenever he wished in the Champions Trophy 2025. The Mumbai batter scored 243 runs in five matches of the eight-team tournament at an average of 48.60 and played a key role in taking India to glory.

Iyer scored 604 runs in 17 matches of the tournament at an average of 50.33 and a blistering strike rate of 175.07. Ergo, Iyer played an instrumental role in taking PBKS to the final of the tournament but they could not cross the final hurdle against RCB.

Iyer’s last T20I appearance came against Australia in December 2023, when he scored 53 runs off 37 balls.

“Shreyas Iyer needs to be spoken about because when we were watching the Champions Trophy, no Indian player was better than him in the middle overs. He was the guy who was taking the attack to the opposition. He was the guy who was hitting boundaries whenever he wished, and removing the pressure on the batter at the other end,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

“After that came the IPL. There were plenty of pressures. This was Shreyas Iyer’s best-ever IPL season. We have repeatedly seen that T20 selections are based on IPL performances. We have seen that with Varun Chakaravarthy, Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, and everyone. If we see it from that token, Shreyas Iyer deserves to play,” he observed.

Chopra noted that Iyer deserves his chance but at the same time admitted Tilak Varma has also delivered while batting at one drop.

“We have built a case that Shreyas’ name should be there, but the truth is that Tilak Varma is playing either at No. 3 or No. 4. Since he has started playing at No. 3, he has been unstoppable. Since he bats lower down the order in the IPL, it’s an apple vs orange comparison. If you see his numbers, you feel the guy hasn’t done anything wrong,” he said.

“He also allows us one more thing. You can maintain a left-right combination. Will you drop Tilak Varma from the XI because I believe Shreyas Iyer’s best place to bat is either No. 3 or No. 4? If he goes to No. 5, I think it will be a little too low in T20 cricket, and Surya is at No. 4,” Chopra observed.

India’s Asia Cup squad will be announced on Tuesday.