The Indian team will be aiming to make a strong comeback in the three-match ODI series against South Africa, having suffered a 31-run defeat in the first ODI in Paarl. The KL Rahul-led team was left with many questions to answer; the biggest, perhaps, being Venkatesh Iyer not bowling in the first game. Iyer made his ODI debut in the first match of the series but didn’t bowl a single over, triggering debate over his role in the side.
Former South Africa cricketer, Daryll Cullinan, citing Andile Phehlukwayo’s spell during the middle overs of the second innings, said that Iyer should be utilized in a similar manner. Phehlukwayo bowled five overs, taking two crucial wickets of Rishabh Pant and Ravichandran Ashwin. He bowled with the keeper standing up and the tactic worked against Pant, who was stumped on 16.
During a recent chat on ESPNCricinfo, Daryll Cullinan said, “Venkatesh Iyer should bowl. We saw what Phehlukwayo did with the keeper up. Maybe he can offer that sort of variation. If he’s playing, and is untested with the ball as such, he must be given the full opportunity (to prove himself).”
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Earlier, the decision of not using Iyer as a sixth bowler in the opening game, to not bowl Iyer in the 1st ODI was also met with criticism from former Indian cricketers Gautam Gambhir and Aakash Chopra, who wondered whether the team management is even considering Iyer as an all-rounder.
Gambhir had said, “You could’ve given him 5-6 overs and see how he is bowling because you’re looking at him as an all-rounder.” In reply, Chopra said, “I don’t know, it seems only you and I are looking at him that way.”
Aakash Chopra further cited Iyer’s appearances in the three-match T20I series against New Zealand where he wasn’t given the ball in the first two games.
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Former opener explained, “Because when the T20Is were there (against New Zealand), Rohit Sharma was the captain. It was a home series against New Zealand and you didn’t hand him the ball in the first two matches. We kept on waiting. That happened when others were conceding 10 runs per over,” said the former India opener.
