Venkatesh Iyer has credited the side’s terrific turnaround in the second leg of the IPL to the positive intent shown on and off the field by the players and management.

KKR’s positive intent on and off-field is the reason behind the team’s turnaround, says Venkatesh Iyer, the Kolkata Knight Riders opener. In just 9 IPL 2021 games, all at UAE, the opener has 320 runs beside his name, averaging 40 with as many as 3 fifties.

Venkatesh Iyer scored his maiden IPL fifty in the game vs MI.© Instagram.

Venkatesh Iyer on KKR’s road to grand finale:

After an underwhelming first half where KKR lost as many as five out of their seven games, the 2-time IPL champions won seven of their nine matches in the second leg in the UAE to reach the final. The two-time champions will take on Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the summit clash in Dubai after their three-wicket win over Delhi Capitals in the second qualifier on Wednesday.

“The brand of cricket that the KKR is playing and by KKR I just don’t mean the cricketers who are playing out there but the entire management. The way we are thinking, the way we are going about the things that are the real turnaround for us,” Iyer told KKR chief mentor David Hussey in a video posted on IPL’s website.

“The intent we are showing not just on the field but off the field is what brought us here,” he added.

Chasing a modest target of 136, Venkatesh Iyer smashed a 41-ball 55 and, alongside Shubman Gill (46), set up KKR’s win over DC.

Venkatesh Iyer Will Try To Give His Best In The IPL 2021 Final

Such has been the resurgent ride in UAE that Kolkata Knight Riders moved from seventh to fourth place in the points table and now find themselves in contention for the IPL trophy. Their opening pair of Venkatesh Iyer and Shubman Gill have been impressive. Likewise, the bowlers have been efficient, with Lockie Ferguson, Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakravarthy, and Sunil Narine doing the job with utmost precision.

“I wasn’t chasing 136, I just went out there to bat. I just wanted to play the first six overs and see what the situation is. That brought the best,” he said.

Eoin Morgan, Dinesh Karthik. Photo – IPL |

Asked about the final against CSK on Friday in Dubai, he said: “I am not going to treat it as a final or big game. I will just play my game and give my best and that is what the entire team is going to do.”

Kolkata Knight Riders have won two out of two in the IPL finals. On the other hand, Chennai Super Kings have reached the finals nine times, emerging victorious in three of them. However, the form with the bat of their senior players Eoin Morgan and Dinesh Karthik is a major cause of concern. Dinesh Karthik is averaging only 23.77, while Eoin Morgan’s average is an abysmal 11.72.