Former India player turned veteran commentator Sunil Gavaskar has applauded Venkatesh Iyer for the improvement in his game and approach in IPL 2024 as well. He also feels that the talented Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) player could return to the Indian team based on his performances this season. However, KKR bundled the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) out for 113 in the IPL 2024 final in Chennai on Sunday, May 26 and then chased down the total with ease. Venkatesh Iyer scored an unbeaten 52 off 26 deliveries as the KKR registered an emphatic eight-wicket win to clinch their third IPL title.

Reviewing the game on Star Sports, Gavaskar said, “I feel his batting and thinking have changed a little this time and for the better. Due to that, I believe he can once again become an India prospect because he bowls as well. He is also a very good fielder. If you are a left-handed middle-order batter in T20 or 50-over cricket and can bowl a few overs as well, it is icing on the cake.”

“In the last season, he had played for India and was looking slightly overconfident, and was getting out because of that. Yes, I remember that he scored a century against Mumbai. It’s not that his season was bad but he was getting out while trying to hit sixes or play big shots soon after his arrival,” Gavaskar observed.

However, Venkatesh Iyer scored 404 runs at a slightly below-par average of 28.86 in 14 innings in IPL 2023 as well. His 370 runs in 13 innings this season came at a great average of 46.25.

“We haven’t seen that this time. He played a few shots along the ground and after that, like we saw today, the way he attacked Bhuvneshwar Kumar. He understood that they could come under pressure if they had lost two or three wickets in the first six overs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the most dangerous bowler because the ball was swinging. So the way he went down the track and hit him for two sixes altered Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s line and length. When that happens, the batters dominate,” Sunil Gavaskar concluded.