Champions Trophy: Shreyas Iyer brushes concerns around Rohit, Shami's injuries
What's the story
India's No. 4 batsman Shreyas Iyer was the star of the show as he helped the Men in Blue clinch a six-wicket victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in the Champions Trophy 2025 fixture in Dubai. Iyer scored a brilliant 56 off 67 balls, helping India chase down Pakistan's 242-run target. Following the game, he brushed addressed fitness concerns surrounding team captain Rohit Sharma and pacer Mohammed Shami.
Post-match insights
Iyer addresses injury concerns
During the match, worries were raised over Rohit and Shami getting injured. The rumors started doing rounds as the two players left the field on occasions in the initial half of the first innings. However, Iyer brushed those concerns aside saying both the players were fine with no injury concerns. "As far as I know, both Rohit and Shami are fine. There is no injury concern to them," he stated in the post-match press conference.
Match highlights
Iyer's performance and partnership with Kohli
Meanwhile, Iyer's innings comprised of five fours and a maximum, before he was sent back by Khushdil Shah. His 114-run partnership with an unbeaten Virat Kohli for the third wicket proved instrumental in India's win over Pakistan. Iyer lauded Kohli's dedication and hunger for runs, emphasizing his relentless performance on the field.
Venue perspective
Iyer's response to playing in Pakistan
When a Pakistani journalist asked if the victory would have been sweeter had it been in Lahore or Karachi, Iyer said he has never played in Pakistan and hence doesn't know how it would've felt. However, he did say he enjoyed the challenge of a game against Pakistan, saying, "I've never played a single game in Pakistan so I don't know about that. But at the end of the day, any victory against Pakistan is sweet."
Tournament controversy
PCB chairman expresses disappointment over India's decision
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi also expressed his disappointment over India's decision to play their Champions Trophy matches at a neutral venue. He said that despite Pakistan's efforts to ensure security and hospitality for the Indian team, India chose not to travel. However, he remains confident that this tournament will leave a lasting legacy for cricket in Pakistan.