Aakash Chopra Advocates for Shreyas Iyer's Inclusion in Asia Cup Squad

Former cricketer Aakash Chopra believes Shreyas Iyer’s exceptional IPL and ICC Champions Trophy performances warrant his inclusion in India's Asia Cup team. With Iyer and others like Suryakumar Yadav in form, selection dilemmas arise, as Chopra highlights Iyer’s vital role and middle-order prowess.

As Team India prepares for the upcoming Asia Cup T20 edition, former cricket star Aakash Chopra has voiced strong support for middle-order batsman Shreyas Iyer. Reflecting on Iyer's remarkable performances as captain for the Punjab Kings during the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the ICC Champions Trophy, Chopra emphasized the batter's game-changing ability to hit boundaries with ease, often relieving pressure from his teammates.

India's cricketing lineup is bolstered by a potent top order featuring players like Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, and captain Suryakumar Yadav, who are all in explosive form ahead of the tournament. Within this fiery competition, Iyer, alongside Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal, is vying for a coveted top-order position as India's campaign launches against hosts UAE on September 10.

Throughout the year, Iyer has shone in ODI cricket, emerging as India's leading run-scorer and the second-highest overall in their Champions Trophy victory. Accumulating 243 runs over five matches, he maintained an impressive average of 48.60. In IPL 2025, Iyer experienced his best season, amassing 604 runs across 17 matches with an average of 50.33 and a remarkable strike rate of 175.07, contributing significantly to Punjab Kings' first IPL final appearance since 2014. Despite their narrow loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru by six runs, Iyer's influence was undeniable.

In discussions on his YouTube channel, Chopra advocated for Iyer's inclusion in the Asia Cup squad, citing his excellence in the middle overs and how IPL achievements often guide T20 selections. Chopra also noted that Tilak Varma could remain a strong candidate for the number three position, given his outstanding T20I record as India's designated number three batsman.

Chopra posed a strategic quandary: should India drop Tilak Varma for Iyer? This decision could facilitate a desirable left-right batting combination with Sharma, Samson, Iyer, and Yadav. However, Chopra cautioned that deploying Iyer at number five might not capitalize on his full potential in T20 cricket, with Suryakumar Yadav securely at number four.

(With inputs from agencies.)