Venkatesh Iyer looks set to make his international debut in the T20I series against New Zealand. He has earned his maiden India call-up. Venkatesh Iyer had also met his idol, Sourav Ganguly, after the conclusion of the IPL 2021 final, where the BCCI President exchanged a few ideas with the budding all-rounder.
Venkatesh Iyer, who was a revelation for Kolkata Knight Riders in the UAE leg of the recently concluded IPL 2021, earned a maiden India call-up alongside the likes of Avesh Khan and Harshal Patel. Venkatesh Iyer scored 320 runs in 10 games at an average of 41.11 and a strike rate of 128.47, including four half-centuries.
Venkatesh Iyer Met Idol Sourav Ganguly After The IPL 2021 Final Against CSK
The dream to represent his nation at the highest level is set to come true for all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer who only came into the spotlight in the UAE-leg of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021. After getting his maiden India call-up for the T20I series against New Zealand, Venkatesh Iyer revealed the conversation he had with ‘idol’ Sourav Ganguly after the T20 league’s final in October.
Venkatesh Iyer idolizes Sourav Ganguly, having watched the latter mesmerize cricket lovers with his glorious shots through the off-side over the years. In fact, Venkatesh Iyer had transformed himself into a left-handed batsman only because Dada batted left-handed.
The KKR all-rounder said that he got the opportunity to meet Sourav Ganguly after the IPL 2021 final against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Having been impressed by Venkatesh Iyer’s performances thus far, Dada gave him a few tips that could help the budding all-rounder elongate his career at the highest level.
“When I was very young, I used to bat right-handed by watching Dada, I wanted to copy him, do everything like him so I became a left-handed. Feels nice when people compare me with him,” Iyer said.
“Met Dada after the IPL final and it felt nice to speak to him. It was a very normal conversation. He said it is going well and told me to put more effort and hard work into my game. Instead of thinking about the result, focus on the process. Do that and you will automatically see the results,” Iyer added.
Venkatesh Iyer has been drafted into the Indian team as a seam-bowling all-rounder. While he opened for KKR in IPL 2021, the role for the Indian team is expected to be quite different.
Venkatesh Iyer Came Into Indian Team To Fill In The Void Left By Hardik Pandya
With the likes of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Ishan Kishan already included in the Indian team as openers, Venkatesh Iyer is likely to be groomed as a No. 5 or No. 6 player who can finish games for the team and bowl a few overs too. The 26-year-old has come into the national team to fill in the void left by Hardik Pandya, who is reportedly not being considered for national selection over form and fitness issues.
India’s squad was announced for the upcoming T20I at home against New Zealand. The tour will commence with the T20Is on November 17, while the Test matches are set to be played from November 25.
A lot of players who were a part of the World Cup squad have been rested for the T20I series after spending more than six months inside a bubble. As a result, the likes of Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja have been kept away from the three T20Is against the Kiwis.
Hardik Pandya played as a specialist batsman in the two warm-up matches ahead of the Super 12 round of the T20 World Cup 2021. The Gujarat-born cricketer did not bowl a single over during the second leg of the IPL 2021 in the UAE. In fact, a lot of questions were raised over his selection in India’s T20 World Cup squad.
The hard-hitting right-hander has been finally dropped for the home T20I series against New Zealand, and if sources are to be believed, Hardik Pandya will have to perform in the domestic cricket to earn a place back in the squad.