“Focus will be on him”

Former Indian player Aakash Chopra has acknowledged that Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill could be the men of Blue’s X-Factors in the 2025 Champions Trophy final against New Zealand. He pointed out that the focus will be on Shreyas because of his skill against spin in the middle overs.

India is facing the New Zealand in the 2025 Champions Trophy final in Dubai on Sunday, March 9. While Shreyas scored 79 races from 98 deliveries in the men in Blue’s 44-run victory in their group A games against the Kiwis, Gill was dismissed for a seven-ball two.

In a video shared on his YouTube ‘Aakash Chopra’, the Cricketer-Vendt commentator responded affirmatively when asked if Shreyas and Shubman could be India’s X-Factors in the 2025 Champions Trophy final considering their impressive ODI record against New Zealand.

“I think they can be. I think Shreyas Iyer only has one score less than 30 in all ODDs he has played against New Zealand. Every time he scores the races. The bowling is very good in the middle overs. You get Mitchell Santner and (Michael) Bracewell there,” he said (11:55).

“You might also see Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips. However, this guy spin playing so well. He plays spin so comfortably that he gets better of them. So focus will be on him,” Chopra added.

Shreyas Iyer has collected 563 races an average of 70.38 in eight ODDs against New Zealand. He has beaten two hundred and four fifties against the black caps, with 33 being his lowest score against them.

“He has to set the record straight” – Aakash Chopra at Shubman Gill in front of in for the NZ 2025 Champions Trophy Final

In the same video, Aakash Chopra noticed that Shubman Gill has to return to his run-scoring ways in the 2025 Champions Trophy.

“Shubman Gill started the tournament with a smell, he scored a century and also played well in the second match against Pakistan. However, he has gone down a bit in the two matches after that. So he also has to set the record straight,” he said (12:25).

The former India opener added that Gill must deliver in big games that Virat Kohli does if he wants to be considered among the greatness of the game.

“If Shubman has to stay like Virat because he is on his way to greatness, so if he has to go there, leave your imprint on the final. So you are absolutely right. If Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill play wonderfully, we will write our name on the trophy,” CHOPRA observed Chopra.

Shubman Gill has scored 592 races an average of 74.00 in 11 laps against New Zealand. He has beaten two hundreds, including a 208 race knock in Hyderabad in January 2023, and like many fifties against the Kiwis.