‘No one was better than him in the middle overs’- Aakash Chopra advocates Indian batter’s selection in India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad

Ex-Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra expressed that Shreyas Iyer deserves a place in India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad. He praised Iyer for his consistent performances in the middle order, highlighting his ability to provide stability and score crucial runs. Chopra believes Iyer’s recent form and impact make him a strong candidate for selection in the upcoming tournament.

Chopra praised the Mumbai batter for his crucial role during the 2025 Champions Trophy, where he stood out with his ability to rotate strike and find boundaries at key moments. According to Chopra, Iyer not only maintained momentum but also added stability to India’s batting lineup in pressure situations.

Highlighting his impact, Chopra emphasized that Iyer’s performances in the middle overs were instrumental in setting up competitive totals and successful chases. Given his recent form and ability to deliver under pressure, Chopra feels the right-hander has made a strong case for selection and deserves to be trusted in India’s plans for the Asia Cup 2025.

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Aakash Chopra Suggested Shreyas Iyer to Include in India’s Squad:

The Asia Cup 2025 will take place in the UAE from September 9 to 28, with India’s squad announcement scheduled for Tuesday, August 19. Shreyas Iyer is seen as a strong contender for selection. Aakash Chopra highlighted that Shreyas Iyer was a key contributor to Rohit Sharma’s Champions Trophy triumph earlier this year, establishing himself as one of the tournament’s most impactful and reliable performers.

On his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra said, “ 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 pointed out that Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer merits selection in India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad following his impressive IPL season. He scored 604 runs in 17 innings at an average of 50.33, with a memorable unbeaten 87 in Qualifier 2 against Mumbai Indians, which guided PBKS into the IPL 2025 final.

He further said, “ 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.”

Chopra mentioned that Shreyas Iyer, with 1104 runs at a strike rate of 136.11 in 47 T20I innings, ranks fifth among active Indian T20I run-scorers. He further emphasized that Iyer’s calm approach and consistency in middle overs could play a vital role for India, particularly in laying a solid platform ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup.