“They will deliver for us in the ICC Champions Trophy”: Aakash Chopra opines on Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer’s chances

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has praised Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer for their dynamic performances in the third ODI against England. He suggested that the two could be crucial for India’s success in the 2025 Champions Trophy.

Gill’s splendid knock of 112 off 102 balls and Iyer’s solid 78 off 64 helped India post a challenging target of 357 in the final ODI on Wednesday, February 12, at Ahmedabad. The Indian bowlers then bowled out England for just 214, securing a commanding 142-run victory and completing a 3-0 series sweep.

In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra, the former Indian opener, lauded the pair for their consistency throughout the series and their ability to showcase their skills in the 50-over format.

“Shubman Gill has a strong affection for Ahmedabad. He’s managed to score a century across all three formats Tests, ODIs, and T20Is—on this ground. Not only does he lead Gujarat Titans here, but he also consistently racks up runs. This particular innings just reinforced once again that he’s a top-tier player,” he remarked (7:15).

“Shubman Gill has only improved as the series has gone on. He’s proving that this format is where he thrives, and it’s the same for Shreyas Iyer. Together, these two players are looking like the ones who can deliver for us in the Champions Trophy, as they’ve shown remarkable consistency,” Chopra continued.

“He looked completely in charge from the very first ball. It felt like he had everything under control. It wasn’t just that he was in command of his own game, but he was also controlling the flow of the match. He had a clear sense of when to step down the track and hit straight or target the off-side, and he knew exactly when to send a spinner over the boundary. Even with fielders in the deep, he wasn’t deterred. He’s incredibly talented, and his game is based on solid, traditional cricket—no fancy shots, just proper cricketing technique,” Chopra concluded.

Gill and Iyer shared a key 104-run stand for the third wicket. Prior to that, Iyer had formed a 116-run partnership for the second wicket with Virat Kohli (52 off 55), after Rohit Sharma was dismissed cheaply for just one.

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