“He took the team to the final” - Aakash Chopra opens up on Shreyas Iyer's place in the Asia Cup 2025 squad

The Asia Cup 2025 will start in less than a month. The BCCI has not yet revealed the names of the captain, vice-captain, and, for the most part, the entire team for the esteemed competition. This year, in February, India played their final Twenty20 International. The 2025 Asia Cup will begin on September 9. 

Indian cricket has seen a lot over the past seven or eight months. Virat and Rohit's retirements from Test matches and Twenty20 Internationals have left gaps that have not yet been filled. When India played England in the T20 Internationals in February, the team was primarily composed of up-and-coming talents rather than some established ones.

India has a brilliant bunch of youngsters who are going to be vital in not just this tournament but all upcoming ones as well. But a seasoned player is needed to be mixed in with the lot, to provide some experience in tough situations, and Shreyas Iyer could be that one batter.

Iyer adds recent form, demonstrated versatility, and big-match experience, while Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, and Shivam Dube provide punch. His presence might give India the steadiness and tactical advantage it needs in a tournament that is expected to depend on narrow margins.

With the exception of the matches against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), former India opener Aakash Chopra has admitted that Shreyas Iyer had an incredible run for the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the 2025 Indian Premier League. He did, however, question if the PBKS captain would have a spot in India's batting line for the 2025 Asia Cup.

"If you see his recent IPL performance, he came after sorting out his short-ball problem. He has opened up his stance a little and started hitting very well towards midwicket and long-on. If you leave aside the RCB matches, he has been absolutely outstanding. He took the team to the final," he added.

According to him, Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, and Suryakumar Yadav have been playing well, hence Shreyas has no place in the top four.

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