Legendary spinner Ravichandran Ashwin lavished immense praise on Shreyas Iyer ahead of India versus New Zealand Champions Trophy 2025 final. Shreyas Iyer's consistent form has bolstered the Indian batting lineup, contributing substantially to the team's overall success in the Champions Trophy 2025.
R Ashwin feels Shreyas Iyer has helped Virat Kohli play the way he wants to in the ongoing tournament. Ashwin specifically credited Iyer's proficient handling of spinners during the middle overs, stating that it allows Kohli to play with his natural rhythm and style. The strong partnerships between Iyer and Kohli, notably against Pakistan and Australia, have always come handy for Team India.
Iyer's contributions to India's campaign cannot go unnoticed, as he has amassed 195 runs across four matches in the eight-team tournament. Ashwin has identified him as the potential 'game-changer' in the upcoming final against New Zealand.
“For me, the game-changer will be Shreyas Iyer. It is because of his recent form. This guy has had an excellent 2023 World Cup. He has batted well against New Zealand. He has played well at the Wankhede in Mumbai. And once again, in this tournament, he has looked crackerjack," said Ashwin on his YouTube channel 'Ash Ki Baat'.
“He has worked well on his short-ball game as well. Of course, he got out in the last game. But it shouldn’t matter. I think this is Shreyas Iyer’s biggest strength. He wants to get better at what he is not good at,” Ashwin added.
Iyer and Kohli has been a cornerstone of India's success in the Champions Trophy. Their ability to build substantial stands under pressure has been crucial in pivotal matches. Notably, in the Group A encounter against Pakistan, they forged a 114-run partnership for the third wicket, stabilising the innings and setting a solid foundation. This dynamic duo replicated their success in the semi-final against Australia, where they combined for a 91-run stand, instrumental in India's successful chase of 265 runs.
“The way he plays, it helps Virat Kohli. There was a question with Gauti in the press conference. What was the conversation with Virat? Because he got out against a leg-spinner. Gauti gave an amazing answer. A guy has played 300 games. Obviously, he will get out. But apart from that, there is one thing: Virat Kohli is able to play the way he is playing because Shreyas Iyer is playing this way against spin," Ashwin further stated.
“So, the captains are in a catch-22 situation. There will be a partnership between Shreyas and Virat. When there is a partnership between Virat and Shreyas, the captains can’t enforce a spin choke. Shreyas is removing all the pressure from Virat. So, these two in the middle overs have forged a formidable pair. And for Virat’s success, Shreyas Iyer has played a part in it. And for Shreyas’s success, Virat has a part in it. Because this is what people call playing in partnerships," spin wizard added.
Ashwin has pinpointed Shreyas Iyer's effectiveness against spin bowling as a key element in India's ability to maintain momentum throughout their innings. This skill allows India to avoid stagnation in the middle overs, a crucial phase of any limited-overs match. The consistent pressure applied by Iyer against spinners creates opportunities for both himself and Virat Kohli to capitalise, resulting in a highly productive partnership.
“Because if fast bowlers attack Shreyas Iyer, Virat Kohli can easily score runs; he can even hit the odd boundary. So, this is a combination that is made possible by Shreyas Iyer’s batting against spin. In these conditions, you can’t enforce a spin choke against India because Shreyas is batting like this. If Shreyas gets out, then it is a problem," said Ashwin. But I think Shreyas Iyer will once again be a game-changer," he concluded.