Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has called Shreyas Iyer the country’s best current middle-order batter, urging selectors to include him in the squad for the upcoming ACC Asia Cup 2025.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra highlighted Iyer’s ability to dominate the middle overs, praising his knack for finding boundaries and maintaining momentum under pressure.
“The Asia Cup squad needs to include Shreyas Iyer because no Indian player was better than him in the middle overs during the Champions Trophy,” he said.
Aakash Chopra further underlined Iyer’s stellar form in IPL 2025, where the Punjab Kings skipper scored 604 runs in 17 innings at an average of 50.33, leading his side to the final.
He noted that such performances often influence national selection.
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“This was Shreyas Iyer’s best IPL season yet. We have often seen that IPL performances play a key role in T20 selections. By that measure, Iyer deserves a spot,” Aakash Chopra added.
Iyer’s T20I numbers also strengthen his case, with 1,104 runs at a strike rate of 136.11 in 47 innings, the fifth-highest tally among active Indian players.
Aakash Chopra said his experience and composure could provide India with much-needed stability in the middle overs heading into the 2026 T20 World Cup.
The Asia Cup 2025 begins on September 9 with Afghanistan taking on Hong Kong in the Group B opener.
Pakistan and India headline Group A alongside UAE and Oman, while Group B consists of Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Hong Kong.
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