Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has backed Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer to bat at number three position against Delhi Capitals at Dharamsala on Thursday. Iyer has been in good form in the ongoing IPL 2025, scoring 405 runs in 11 matches at an average of 50.63 and a strike rate of 180.80.
The right-hander from Mumbai scored an impressive knock of 45 runs off just 25 balls in the last game against Lucknow Super Giants while batting at number four. PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting later revealed it was Iyer’s decision to promote Josh Inglis to number three to take on the attack against Mayank Yadav, who was bowling short length.
“They made a tactical decision in the last match. Inglis was sent up the order and Shreyas came at No. 4. Eventually, it worked, and it was mentioned that it was Shreyas’ idea because Mayank Yadav bowls short and Inglis plays the pull well, which is fine. However, I liked Shreyas playing consistently at No. 3 in this entire season,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“We saw him sending Venkatesh Iyer up the order many times for KKR, but he said he would play consistently at No. 3 this season and would deliver, and he has delivered. So, in my opinion, go back to No. 3 because you will be needed to neutralize Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and Vipraj Nigam’s threat,” he added.
Meanwhile, Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya have delivered consistently for PBKS as openers and Chopra said it would be a mouth-watering clash against the duo of Mitchell Starc and Dushmantha Chameera.
“Both openers are uncapped Indians. They will have Mitchell Starc and probably Dushmantha Chameera in front of them this time. It could be a mouth-watering clash. This is the year when the baton has been passed in the relay race. The young Indians have started doing well,” he said.
The cricket analyst urged franchises to bat young uncapped Indian players at the top of the order to get the best out of them.
“If you are wondering why they have started doing well, an important reason for that is that they have started batting at good positions. Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh and Ayush Mhatre dominated when they got to open. If you want an uncapped Indian to do well, make him bat up the order,” Chopra observed.
It would be a crucial game for both teams with regard to the playoff race.
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