"No Indian player was better than him"- Ex-India cricketer orders BCCI to pick Shreyas Iyer in Indian squad for the Asia Cup 2025

Aakash Chopra highlighted Shreyas Iyer’s impressive performance in ICC Champions Trophy and IPL 2025.

Reputed cricket commentator Aakash Chopra has backed Shreyas Iyer to be part of India squad for Asia Cup 2025. The former India opener highlighted Iyer’s brilliant performances in ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.

Since the start of this year, Iyer has been in incredible form. During India’s quest for the title in ICC Champions Trophy 2025 earlier this year, Iyer finished as the team’s highest run-scorer with 243 runs in five matches at an average of 48.60.

Later, he led Punjab Kings (PBKS) to IPL 2025 final and finished as the sixth highest run-scorer in the tournament. At an average of 50.33 and a strike rate of 175.07, the right-handed batsman mustered 604 runs in 17 games.

Aakash Chopra backs Shreyas Iyer in India squad for Asia Cup 2025

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra highlighted how Iyer was the best batter for India in the middle-order during ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

“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,” he said.

The 47-year-old also noted that many players are selected in T20s based on their IPL performances. Hence, Iyer also deserves a spot after his brilliant show in IPL 2025.

“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 added.

However, Chopra also feels that it will be difficult to fit Iyer in the T20I side, as Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav have done a brilliant job at the No.3 and No.4 slots.

“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,” Chopra further added.

Notably, Indian selectors will pick India’s squad for Asia Cup 2025 on August 19 during a meeting in Mumbai. Suryakumar Yadav, the current T20I skipper, will lead the Men in Blue in the tournament. Asia Cup 2025 will commence on September 9 in United Arab Emirates (UAE).

India are part of Group A, with Pakistan, UAE, and Oman in their pool. The Men in Blue will clash with UAE in their opening game on September 10. India are the defending champions of Asia Cup 2025.

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