Virat Kohli is able to play the way he is playing because of Shreyas Iyer: R Ashwin | Cricket News

R Ashwin has showered praise on India’s No. 4 Shreyas Iyer. The former India cricketer credited Virat Kohli’s success to Shreyas Iyer’s dominance against the spinners in the middle overs in the ongoing Champions Trophy.Shreyas Iyer might not have scored a century or claimed the Player-of-the-Match award so far, but he is marginally behind the leading run-getter against spin in the tournament, and easily the most prolific against spin in Dubai. Iyer has managed 195 runs in four outings so far in the tournament, and Ashwin said he could be the game-changer against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final.
“For me, the game-changer will be Shreyas Iyer. It is because of his recent form,” Ashwin said on his Hindi YouTube channel “Ash Ki Baat.”
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“He was doing a post-match with Robin Uthappa. Robin asked him, how he is so composed? Then he said, ‘I have worked on my breathing technique.’ 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.  
Ashwin also lauded Iyer for working on his game against short-pitched bowling.
“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,” he said.
Against Pakan, Iyer stitched a 114-run stand for the third wicket with Virat Kohli, who remained unbeaten on 100. Against New Zealand, Shreyas walked in with India reeling at 30 for 3, then he forged a match-changing 98-run stand with Axar Patel. Shreyas scored 79. Against Australia in the semifinal, India were again in a spot of bother at 42 for 2, but Iyer put together a 91-run stand with Virat Kohli to steer India out of trouble.   Story continues below this ad
“The way he plays, it helps Virat Kohli,” said Ashwin.
“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.
“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.Story continues below this ad
“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 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.”