Iyer's revelation about his ODI spot leaves Aakash Chopra baffled
What's the story
Shreyas Iyer, a key player in India's cricket team, recently revealed that he wasn't initially picked for the first One Day International (ODI) match in Nagpur.
He was called up to replace Virat Kohli after the latter injured his knee.
Meanwhile, this revelation has left cricket pundits like Aakash Chopra baffled.
Despite his last-minute inclusion, Iyer put up an impressive show by scoring 59 runs and paving the way for India's victory.
Match details
Iyer's unexpected call-up and stellar performance
Notably, Iyer wasn't a part of the playing XI for the first ODI against England.
He was called up to replace Kohli who had suffered a knee injury.
Despite the last-minute change, Iyer scored an impressive 59 runs off just 36 balls, setting the stage for India's victory in Nagpur.
His performance has sparked discussions about possible changes in India's lineup for future matches.
Career trajectory
Iyer's journey from World Cup to domestic circuit
Iyer had an incredible ODI World Cup 2023, scoring 530 runs in 11 matches and becoming the first Indian batter at No.4 to breach the 500-run mark in an ICC tournament.
However, despite the feat, he was left out of the Indian Test and T20I team amid several controversies.
Additionally, he also lost his BCCI central contract and was sent back to play domestically.
Team dynamics
Iyer's position in the team questioned
Iyer's revelation of him being a part of the primary XI for the first ODI against England has raised questions about his role in the team.
Former Indian cricketer Akash Chopra expressed his confusion over why Iyer was initially benched despite his impressive performance in the World Cup.
"He's the first Indian to score 500+ runs batting at 4 in a World Cup. 2023. How could you bench him?" Chopra asked on his social media channel.
Future prospects
Uncertainty looms over Iyer's future in ODIs
India's vice-captain Shubman Gill confirmed Kohli's return for the second ODI match of the series, raising questions over Iyer's future in the team.
If Iyer is left out, India could potentially lose one of its best batters against spin during middle overs.
This could be particularly challenging in Dubai where conditions are expected to favor spin bowling as the tournament progresses.
Squad
A look at India's 15-member squad for the Champions Trophy
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja.