Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer on Sunday (April 16) impressed one and all with a blistering century in Match 22 of the ongoing IPL against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium.
Batting at No. 3, Iyer slammed 104 off 51 balls to propel KKR to 185/6, which was chased down MI in 17.4 overs with five wickets in hand.
The 2023 edition of IPL is a comeback tournament for Venkatesh after an extended injury lay-off. He tripped off a staircase and twisted his ankle during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy last October. Subsequently, Iyer underwent surgery and spent many months at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru to regain his full fitness.
"IPL is a comeback tournament. I broke my left ankle six months back - the subtalar joint had come out - and it was a freakish accident. But I am fortunate to be under a system where the BCCI takes care of me," Venkatesh Iyer told the media after the match.
"Everything was taken care of and I was at the NCA for four to five months. All the doctors and trainers were very cooperative and they helped me come out of this space.
"A lot of doctors told me that I would not be able to run as fast as I normally would. I would feel disappointed but I am happy that I am back on the field and doing what I love the most and contributing to the team," he added.
Venkatesh Iyer dedicated his maiden IPL century to KKR’s assistant coach Abhishek Nayar.
"One name worth mentioning here is Abhishek Nayar. He has worked with my batting day in and day out and not just batting, also my approach towards the game. I credit this century to him.
"As far as Chandu sir goes, I have been working with him for three years and I am happy that his tactics are now at an international level," he stated.
Venkatesh said it was important for him to take up the No. 3 position given that KKR are without their regular skipper Shreyas Iyer.
"Shreyas is not in the team, he is injured and someone had to take up the role of No 3 which is an important role. I have maintained that I want to be flexible as a cricketer.
"When he (coach) told me that I have to bat at No 3, the intent did not change; you have to go after the bowling in the powerplay and once I analyse that the ball is not swinging, I take my chances and get the team off to a flier.
"The tactics are defined then and there, this is a red soil pitch so I had to play much squarer and not straighter," he said.
Venkatesh Iyer’s hundred, however, went in vain as MI overhauled the target in 17.4 overs with five wickets in hand.
"The way MI hit the ball I felt the wicket got better but you have to give the credit where it is due. They batted really well and the most important aspect was the start that they got.
In hindsight we can talk about scoring 15-20 runs less and the wicket getting better but they outbatted us," he said.
(With PTI Inputs)
