Former India opener turned commentator Aakash Chopra has praised Shreyas Iyer for silencing his critics with a stunning fifty in the first ODI against England in Nagpur on Thursday, February 6 as well. He further added that many were questioning his place in Team India’s squad and playing XI as well. Notably, Team India bowled England out for 248 after Jos Buttler opted to bat first as well. Shreyas smashed 59 runs off 36 balls in the chase as the hosts reached the target with four wickets and 68 balls in hand.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra’, he said, “Shreyas Iyer is an important topic because Indian cricket is going very differently. It is driven a lot by the atmosphere, and the atmosphere had been created whether Iyer would be selected, whether Iyer should be played, and why shouldn’t Iyer also be dropped. I said are you going mad? It’s good no one agreed with our keyboard warriors. No one agrees with what they say and shouldn’t as well because the atmosphere was for Gill not to be played. When he became the vice-captain, they said it’s confirmed now that he might play. Iyer scored 500 runs in the last World Cup, played first-class cricket, and scored runs there as well.”

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In the same video, Aakash Chopra also appreciated Shreyas Iyer’s knock against the short ball in Thursday’s match as well.

“When he got to bat, two guys had gotten out early. So he was tested with bouncers. He hit a short ball over midwicket for a six. Another short ball, and a six over third man, and then pull and cut shots one after the other. He was very, very good. The pace at which he scored runs, of course, India won easily in the end, but it allowed you time. The opposing team’s plans get totally derailed when you play with that dominance. I think this knock from Shreyas Iyer will go a long way,” Aakash Chopra concluded.