Venkatesh Iyer has had an eventful couple of years. After making a name for himself with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), he briefly represented India.
However, things haven’t gone as smoothly for him since then. It seemed as if everything happened too quickly, and he could not secure his place in the national team, leading to his return to the domestic circuit with Madhya Pradesh.
Venkatesh has worked hard on the domestic circuit and returned to IPL 2023 with something to prove. His early-season form serves as a reminder to both viewers and selectors of his value to any team. He could be a dark horse for the 50-over World Cup later this year.
Here, we look at 3 possible reasons why:
1) Can serve as a replacement for Hardik Pandya
After recovering from his injury, Hardik Pandya reinvented himself as a skilled all-rounder, particularly in the bowling department. His batting abilities are well-known, with the right-handed batter often causing havoc in the middle order with his power-hitting.
It’s his bowling that has been impressive. Previously seen as a bowler who could contribute a few overs, he is now a valuable bowler who can even take the new ball. In addition, he can contribute to all three departments, and his leadership is also an important factor.
Venkatesh Iyer may not have all of these qualities, but he is currently the best like-for-like replacement for Hardik.
2) A quality left-hander in the middle is always a bonus
With Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, India has two left-handed batters available for the middle order. The absence of Rishabh Pant leaves the team with a quality left-hander who can bat higher up the order if needed for matchups.
Venkatesh Iyer has shown that he is comfortable facing both pace and spin and could be a valuable addition to the middle order. He has also demonstrated his versatility by batting lower down the order when he had the opportunity to represent India last year.
3) Iyer has been in great form in the IPL 2023
Since being retained by the Kolkata Knight Riders, Venkatesh Iyer has justified the team management’s decision in IPL 2023. In eight matches, he has scored 285 runs with an average of 35 and a strike rate of 154.
In addition to that, Venkatesh Iyer has also scored a century this season. His 104 against the Mumbai Indians earlier in the season was his first century in the tournament and his highest score. The all-rounder has been in excellent form and would be a valuable addition to any squad.