Indian all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer admitted that he is well aware of the fact that he is not going to open the innings for Team India in the T20Is, and hence the captain Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid gave him clear instructions to him about his role in the Indian team.
Iyer said that when he was selected for the Indian team, he knew that there were three openers in Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Ishan Kishan, so there is no chance of him opening the batting for the team in T20I cricket.
Venkatesh Iyer was quoted as saying by CricketNext: “When I got into the team, I looked at the team and saw three openers already there. Rohit bhai, KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan were already there. So, I knew I am not going to open. And then when I met Rahul sir and he asked me how I used to approach the innings when I used to open and it was communicated to me that I will play the role of a finisher.”
The all-rounder further revealed that Dravid and Rohit have already made it clear that he will have to play the finisher's role in India’s T20I side whenever he gets the opportunity.
He continued, “Whenever someone gives you a new role, they also give you a cushion. That was done. Rohit bhai and Rahul sir told me that I would be given a string of games to try and execute that role. And once you have the captain and coach’s backing, the job becomes all the easier.”
The all-rounder has so far played 8 T20Is and 2 ODIs, but he has only bowled 14 overs in total, and he admitted that he wasn’t given much opportunity with the ball to prove himself.
Iyer signed off by saying, “To be honest, I did feel a bit under-bowled. But when I think of it from the captain’s perspective, and I have led my state sides in the past, you know when the five bowlers are doing the job then it is not really necessary to use the sixth bowling option. It’s a great cushion to have but when the five bowlers are doing the job then the captain need not look at the sixth bowling option. And that’s what Rohit bhai did. From an individual point of view, I would love to bat 20 overs and bowl my four overs but that really is not possible.”
