Sat Feb 08 00:41:49 UTC 2025: ## Ponting Questions India’s Omission of Iyer, Praises His Champions Trophy Prospects
**Dubai, UAE** – Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has expressed surprise at India’s inconsistent selection of middle-order batsman Shreyas Iyer, highlighting his strong World Cup performance and recent domestic success. Iyer’s inclusion in the recent match against England in Nagpur only came about due to Virat Kohli’s injury, a fact revealed by Iyer himself.
Ponting, also Iyer’s coach at the Punjab Kings, lauded Iyer’s 530 runs in the 2023 World Cup, stating he appeared to have cemented his place in the team. While acknowledging Iyer’s back injury setback, Ponting emphasized his brilliant domestic form this year, including two centuries in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and his match-winning 59 against England.
The Australian legend believes Iyer’s style is perfectly suited to the upcoming Champions Trophy in Dubai, predicting he will thrive on the slower wickets and showcasing his strong play against spin bowling. Ponting’s comments raise questions about India’s selection strategy and highlight the potential impact of a consistently selected Iyer on their campaign.
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