Shreyas Iyer’s Revelation Sparks Debate Over India’s Team Selection
India secured a comfortable four-wicket win against England in the first ODI, with Shubman Gill (87) and Shreyas Iyer (59) leading the charge. However, a surprising revelation after the match stirred controversy—Shreyas Iyer admitted he was not originally part of the playing XI and only got a spot due to Virat Kohli’s injury.
The statement shocked many, considering Iyer’s consistency in the middle order. Former cricketer Aakash Chopra questioned the decision, reminding everyone that Iyer was the first Indian to score 500+ runs at No. 4 in a World Cup. "How could he be benched? And if Kohli was playing, was he supposed to bat at No. 4?" Chopra asked.
Parthiv Patel also weighed in, pointing out that Iyer has averaged 60 in his last 10 ODIs, the same as Gill. "It seemed certain that Iyer would play, but India appears to be experimenting with combinations, possibly preferring Jaiswal and Rohit as openers," Patel noted.
With selection decisions under scrutiny, all eyes are now on how India lines up for the second ODI. Will Iyer retain his spot, or will team management continue with their bold choices?