Middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer has been one of the key performers for India in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

His crucial knocks have helped India reach the final of the showpiece tournament, where they will face New Zealand on Sunday (March 9) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Ahead of the title clash, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin acknowledged Iyer’s brilliance at No.4, saying that he is allowing Virat Kohli to play in his own fashion.

Shreyas Iyer has amassed 195 runs in four CT matches so far, which is why Ashwin sees the 30-year-old as the biggest 'game-changer' heading into the summit clash.

“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,” the legendary spinner added.

Ashwin attributed Kohli's success in the eight-team tournament to Iyer's exceptional gameplay against the spinners in the middle overs. Virat and Shreyas were involved in match-winning partnerships against Pakistan and Australia.

“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 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," he remarked.

According to Ashwin, Shreyas Iyer' ability to take down spinners has helped India maintain the tempo throughout the innings, and both batters have benefitted from their partnership in the middle-overs phase.

“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. But I think Shreyas Iyer will once again be a game-changer," Ashwin said.