Robin Uthappa has expressed satisfaction with the bowling performance of India’s latest T20I recruit Venkatesh Iyer. He has stated that that skipper Rohit Sharma will be more confident to throw the ball to him in the future. Following India’s 73-run victory against New Zealand in the 3rd T20I, cricketer Robin Uthappa stated that India’s youngster had won captain Rohit Sharma’s confidence in the bowling department.
Swashbuckling left-hander Venkatesh Iyer was handed his T20I debut in the first game of the three-match T20I series, which India swept, in Jaipur. At the toss, Rohit Sharma had mentioned that Venkatesh Iyer was brought into the side as an all-rounder.
Robin Uthappa: Venkatesh Iyer Earned Skipper Rohit Sharma’s Respect
However, lanky pacer Venkatesh Iyer did not bowl a single delivery in the first two games. He finally got a chance in the third, and he made it count by returning with figures of 1/12 in 4 overs. While batting, Venkatesh Iyer was dismissed for 4 on his T20I debut. Promoted to No. 3 in the 2nd T20I, he returned unbeaten on 12 from 11 balls. He managed 20 off 15 balls in his 3rd T20I but was dismissed while trying to hit a maximum.
“The way Venkatesh Iyer bowled will give Rohit a lot more confidence to throw the ball to him in different situations in the future. I think it was a matter of Venkatesh Iyer earning Rohit’s respect as far as his bowling was concerned. With the way he bowled today, he actually did that,” said Robin Uthappa.
Venkatesh Iyer was under the microscope after the sectors decided to turn their attention to probable seam-bowling all-rounders who can fill the void left by an unfit and out-of-form Hardik Pandya. However, Venkatesh Iyer played all three matches and could not make an immediate impact with the bat.
On Sunday, in the 3rd T20I, he got off to a good start with 20 off 15 balls but couldn’t capitalize on the good start. With the ball, though, he made a good start. In three overs, he gave away just 12 runs in exchange for a wicket. However, it wasn’t the right situation to assess him as an all-rounder.
A fatigued New Zealand was below-par in both batting and bowling departments and was struggling at the Eden Gardens besides being without regular skipper Kane Williamson and pacer Kyle Jamieson.
Robin Uthappa: Whether Venkatesh Iyer’s Bowling Is Good Enough In Australia In 2022 T20I World Cup Has To Be Reevaluated
He added that it remains to be seen whether he would play a similar role in the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as there is a doubt on whether his bowling is good enough for Australian pitches.
“They have to reevaluate and (find out) if Venkatesh Iyer’s bowling is good enough in a place like Australia. They started that path today by actually giving him a bowl to see what he can do. Whether his all-round prowess can fit into the team moving forward towards that World Cup (remains to be seen),” added Robin Uthappa.
India beat the Black Caps by 5 wickets in the first game before sealing the series with a seven-wicket win in Ranchi. The two teams will now lock horns in a two-match Test series, which begins in Kanpur on November 25.
Venkatesh Iyer, a sensation in the second leg of the IPL 2021 in the UAE, earned his maiden India call-up. Venkatesh Iyer scored 370 runs in 10 games at an average of 41.11 and a strike rate of 128.47, including four half-centuries. He finished as KKR’s fourth-highest run-scorer.