Harbhajan Singh backs India's 2023 World Cup star for Champions Trophy 2025

Former spinner Harbhajan Singh has backed Shreyas Iyer for a place in India's squad for the upcoming 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. The 44-year-old pointed out how Iyer delivered with the bat for the Men in Blue at the 2023 ODI World Cup, amassing 530 runs in 11 innings, including two tons and three half-centuries.

Iyer was part of India's squad during the three-match ODI series in Sri Lanka last year. The right-handed batter returned with scores of 23, seven, and eight runs as the tourists lost the series by a 0-2 margin.

Harbhajan Singh said on his YouTube channel:

"Shreyas Iyer should be at No. 4. His World Cup was brilliant, he scored back-to-back centuries. He played so well but then disappeared. What were the reasons? we don’t know. Even Shreyas was surprised what happened to him but, I hope the way he led Mumbai, he’s performed well recently so, he will make a comeback."

After a successful campaign with the reigning champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season, Iyer recently led Mumbai to the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 trophy.

The 30-year-old has also been magnificent with the bat in the 2025 Vijay Hazare Trophy. The Mumbai batter smashed two unbeaten centuries against Karnataka and Puducherry, scoring 114* and 137*, respectively.

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"He deserves a place in the squad" - Harbhajan Singh backs Punjab batter for 2025 ICC Champions Trophy

Harbhajan Singh has also backed under-fire Punjab batter Shubman Gill over KL Rahul for a place in India's squad for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. The cricketer-turned-commentator pointed out Gill failed in the Test series Down Under but has good credentials in ODIs. He said in the same interaction:

"I have kept Shubman Gill in the squad. If you look at his record in One Day cricket, it’s excellent. I was thinking between Gill and KL Rahul but I think I should go ahead with Gill because of the form and the pace at which he scores. The way he playes, he deserves a place in the squad."

Gill returned with 16, 35, and 6 in three ODIs in Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, Rahul managed 31 and 0 in his two outings during the same series.

Harbhajan Singh further rated Yuzvendra Chahal as the best leg spinner in India and backed his selection in India's squad for the upcoming ICC event. He concluded:

"I have included Yuzvendra Chahal in the 15-member squad because the tournament will be played in Asia. India need a good spin attack and I believe there is no better leg spinner than Chahal in India."

Chahal played his last ODI for the Men in Blue against the West Indies in August 2023. He was axed for the 2023 ODI World Cup. The 34-year-old has 121 scalps in 72 matches at an economy rate of 5.26. Kuldeep Yadav is preferred over Chahal in white-ball formats. The left-arm wrist-spinner is recovering from a groin injury and is doubtful for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.