Former Indian cricketer, Gautam Gambhir had no intention of mincing his word on promising 27-year-old Indian player’s fate in the ODI squad, as he felt that young Venkatesh Iyer shouldn’t be considered for the ODIs anymore and can be considered for selection only in T20Is. Talks of Iyer’s role in the Indian ODI set-up have been making rounds for the past few months.
With Hardik Pandya missing games due to injury management since the T20 World Cup 2021 last October in the UAE, Iyer was picked for the home series against New Zealand and for the South Africa ODI tour. Touted to fill the shoes of all-rounder Hardik, Venkatesh has batted at No.3 and 6 in the T20I contest, scoring 36 runs off 28 deliveries but was asked to bowl in only one innings, where he finished with 1/12 in three overs.
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In the ODIs, Venkatesh Iyer has played a couple of games, he played two matches, scoring 24 runs in 40 deliveries, and also bowled in only the second game, finishing with 0/28 in five overs. He was dropped for the final ODI in Cape Town, leaving his selection in the squad baffling with many questioning his role in India’s preparatory plan for the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Speaking to Star Sports after the third ODI, Gautam Gambhir opined that Iyer lacks the maturity an all-rounder like him requires in ODI cricket and should hence be considered only for T20I cricket, provided he opens in that format.
Explaining the same, Gautam Gambhir said, “I feel he should only be considered for T20 cricket. Because he doesn’t have that level of maturity yet. He has been given an opportunity to play international level after watching him in only 7-8 IPL matches. If you are going by IPL performances, then play him in T20 cricket. ODI is a completely different ball game and a completely different beast.”
The veteran cricketer also added that if Venkatesh Iyer remains in the reckoning for ODIs, then Indian management should ask his IPL franchise to play him in the middle order.
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Talking about the same, Venkatesh Iyer said, “Iyer had opened in IPL, now he is playing in the middle order. Send him back. If you are considering him for ODI cricket then tell his IPL franchise to play him in the middle order. But I feel he should be kept for T20s only, that too only as an opener if he plays at that position in IPL.”
India will be locking horns with West Indies in a limited-overs series at home, comprising three ODIs and as many T20Is starting February 6.
