Shreyas Iyer Pre-planned For Champions Trophy 2025 Omission!! Report Drops Bombshell

Just after India’s new number four, Shreyas Iyer walked out to bat in their 249-run chase after the loss of two wickets, the pressure was so much on the Indian team. England pacers got some swing and bounce off the surface as the batting became quite tough.

The Mumbai batter showed his aggressive batting as he smashed a superb knock of 59 runs in 36 balls, with the help of nine boundaries and two over boundaries at a strike rate of 163.89. Shubman Gill’s 87-run knock carried them over the line with four wickets in hand and more than 10 overs to spare.

Despite all of these, Shreyas Iyer wasn’t prepared to play the first ODI in Nagpur. He was busy watching a movie the night before the game until Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain, knocked on his door to include him in the side.

Shreyas Iyer's last-minute inclusion for Nagpur ODI

Virat Kohli’s knee injury ruled him out of the first game, and that forced the Mumbai batter’s inclusion in the side. He was in good rhythm during the recent white-ball domestic season in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2024-25.

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Shreyas Iyer smashed 325 runs in five innings in the tournament at an average of 325 and a strike rate of 131.57, with the help of two centuries at the best score of unbeaten 137 runs. His overall ODI record of 2480 runs in 58 innings at an average of 47.69 and a strike rate of 102.14, shouldering on five centuries and 19 half-centuries is phenomenal.

“So (it is a) funny story. I was watching a movie last night. I thought that I could extend my night, but then I got a call from the skipper saying that you may play because Virat has got a swollen knee." Shreyas Iyer expressed at the end of the Nagpur encounter on Star Sports.

“I wasn't supposed to play the first game. Virat unfortunately got injured and then I got the opportunity. But I kept myself prepared, I knew that at any point of time I can get a chance to play.” He informed.

Shreyas Iyer’s name was not discussed for Champions Trophy 2025

The report from Rohit Juglan has brought a different dimension to the Iyer story. It has been noted that the veteran wasn’t in plans for India for the Champions Trophy squad.

The 30-year-old was the blue brigade’s second leading run-getter in the home ODI World Cup 2023 with the help of 530 runs in 11 innings at an average of 66.25 and a strike rate of 113.24, thanks to two centuries and three half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 128 runs.

The management decided to hand Yashasvi Jaiswal a debut cap in Nagpur. But Iyer’s shocking potential absence would have put the side under serious pressure.

India believes in Shreyas Iyer for middle-order runs

The right-handed batter was in danger of being picked in the ICC event squad. This is surprising on the back of his 1456 runs at number four in ODIs at an average of 52 in 34 innings and at a strike rate of 103.34, thanks to nine half-centuries and four centuries at the best score of 128*.

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“There was quite a fair bit of debate on his inclusion in the lengthy selection meeting in Mumbai recently. Ultimately, those backing him cited his ODI average (47.69), and he was selected.” A source reported, as quoted by the Times of India.

The opening game for the runners-up of the tournament is against Bangladesh at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.