Former India player Aakash Chopra has questioned the Indian team management’s decision not to play Shreyas Iyer in the fourth T20I against New Zealand. He believes that lesser-known players such as Ayush Badoni or Shahbaz Ahmed may have been selected in the squad if they did not want to include Shreyas in the XI.
New Zealand vs India (NZ vs IND) 4th T20 Highlights: On Wednesday, January 28, New Zealand set a target of 216 for India in the fourth T20 international in Visakhapatnam. The hosts, who had just six frontline hitters, were then dismissed for 165, a defeat by 50 runs.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra, the former India opener questioned the team management’s decision, asking why Shreyas was included in the squad if he wasn’t fit enough to feature in the playing XI.
“My biggest point is, why have you kept Shreyas Iyer in the team? When Tilak Varma got injured, I was the one who said Shreyas shouldn’t be played because his name is not in the World Cup squad. However, when Ishan Kishan got injured, you had no other batter sitting outside,” Chopra said. (1:00)
“Shreyas wasn’t in the initial plans, but we cannot play with six batters and five proper bowlers, with Harshit Rana at No. 7. I dare say, what’s the logic of making Shreyas Iyer sit out now? If you didn’t want to play him, you could have kept Ayush Badoni or Shahbaz Ahmed. I can take four other names you could have kept.”
Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra pointed out that a less-experienced athlete would have learned something from being in the locker room. He questioned if Shreyas Iyer would have benefited anything from sitting outside.
“If you feel there will be a ruckus on social media if he scores runs in a match, let it happen” – Aakash Chopra on Shreyas Iyer
In the same video, Aakash Chopra stated that a hypothetical social media backlash if Shreyas Iyer scored runs should not cause the squad to depart from its principles.
“This was the chance where you should have played him. If you feel there will be a ruckus on social media if he scores runs in a match, let it happen. Your job is to play with at least seven batters. You need an all-rounder at No. 8. Don’t change that philosophy at least.”
Aakash Chopra
The cricketer-turned-commentator described the decision not to play Shreyas as ‘grossly incorrect.’
“Don’t make Shreyas Iyer sit out like this. I think the decision to bench him was grossly incorrect. If you have decided to make him sit out, send him home. Let him go and play something else. I am unable to understand the logic of him being here.”
Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra also had doubts over Suryakumar Yadav’s decision to bowl in the fourth T20I against New Zealand. He rated the decision as against the call of not playing Shreyas Iyer if they want to prepare for the T20 World Cup 2026.
