“KL and I, we played that important role” - Shreyas Iyer reveals potential role in India’s squad for 2025 Champions Trophy

Team India batter Shreyas Iyer opened up about his possible role in the batting order for the upcoming Champions Trophy, stating his willingness to be flexible and bat anywhere for the team's cause. Yet, he also reminded of the key role played by him and KL Rahul in India's incredible run in the 2023 ODI World Cup, which ended with them finishing as runners-up.

Iyer scored 530 runs at an excellent average of 66.25 and a strike rate of 113.24 in 11 outings, batting in the middle-order. However, the right-hander has struggled in ODIs since the World Cup, averaging only 22.50 in four games.

When asked about his role in the 2025 Champions Trophy in an interview with ESPN Cricinfo, Iyer responded:

"I'm flexible and ready to bat anywhere in the batting order. KL and I, we played that important role in the middle during the World Cup. We had a great season together. It was just the last bit [the final] that we couldn't execute the way we wanted to. It will be a proud moment for me if I were to be picked in the Champions Trophy [side] to represent the country."

Iyer also opened up on the role he would likely play for his new franchise Punjab Kings (PBKS) in IPL 2025.

"I want to be that anchor in the team who usually plays at No. 3, who can bat, once set, until the 15-16th over and end on a good note. That's how I started playing my cricket in the past, when I was representing DC. Also, when we were brainstorming with Ricky, this was the position [we spoke about] for me to be in," he said.

Renowned as one of the best batters against spin in white-ball cricket, Iyer boasts an impressive IPL record with over 3,000 runs at an average of 32.24 and a strike rate of 127.48 in 115 matches.

PBKS acquired him for ₹ 26.75 crores (second highest in league history) in the IPL 2025 auction and recently made him captain.

"Some people think that my numbers weren't that great" - Shreyas Iyer

Iyer lent solidity to KKR's middle order in IPL 2024 [Credit: Getty]

Shreyas Iyer dismissed the misconceptions about his batting numbers for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2024. The 30-year-old scored only 351 runs but averaged an impressive 39 at a strike rate of almost 147 in 14 outings.

Iyer captained KKR brilliantly, leading the franchise to their third IPL title and first since 2014.

"I feel that I'm flexible. I can bat at any position, as I did in KKR, but still some people think that my numbers weren't that great. But if you go and see the numbers and the positions at which I batted, the strike rate and also the average and combined all that, it benefited the team in every possible way," said Iyer.

He added:

"It's just that perception people create from the outside, that this particular batsman should be batting at this [position in the] order. I am not that kind of a thinker. I love to be flexible. I can bat at any [position]. If my team demands I bat at a certain position, I would do that."

Under Iyer, KKR achieved one of the best single-season performances in IPL history, finishing atop the points table and winning back-to-back games against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Qualifier 1 and final.