The Indian head coach Rahul Dravid said India team management challenged Venkatesh Iyer to become a finisher in T20Is and now they are pleased with the all-rounder’s progress so far. Venkatesh Iyer was at his very best shone in India’s 3-0 sweep of the West Indies, scoring 92 runs in 3 matches, including two match-winning knocks — 18-ball 33 in the 2nd T20I, and followed it with 19-ball 35 not out in the final T20I.
Iyer showcased grit and composure as he walked into bat when India was in a spot of bother in both the matches but stitched crucial stands with Suryakumar Yadav, who won the Player of the Series award. Dravid conceded that Iyer plays as an opener for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL, but he will be getting opportunities to battle in the middle-order and play the role of a finisher for Team India.
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During a media interaction, as per the quotes in India Today, Rahul Dravid said, “I know he plays a different role (opener) for his IPL franchise but we’re very clear with what is the kind of role that we see him filling in our situation… Obviously, our top three isn’t really a spot, because these guys have established and have been performing very well in the top three. We gave him the role to be able to bat in that position. Every time he’s improved, he’s gotten better.”
Venkatesh Iyer has also chipped in as the 6th bowler, giving India an option ahead of the upcoming edition of the T20 World Cup. The inability of Hardik Pandya to bowl even when he was available for selection in the recent past had been a concern for the Indian but the World No.1 T20I side has been trying out opinions at that role.
In the final T20I when Deepak Chahar suffered a hamstring injury in the third over, Venkatesh filled in and took 2/23 in his 2.1 overs. In his nascent career, Iyer has picked up 3 wickets, bowling close to 7 overs for India in T20Is.
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Praising the all-rounder, Rahul Dravid said, “The role of a sixth bowler is something that you always be called upon to bowl. But in a situation like today where we, unfortunately, lost Deepak, you have to bowl a few critical overs. That is the role of a sixth bowler. If you are having a good game and the captain doesn’t need you then he doesn’t need you. If he needs you, he probably will need you at a critical time. And I think he’s done a really good job for us, really good series he has had.”
Meanwhile, Rahul Dravid also came in support of Ishan Kishan, who managed to score just 71 runs across the 3 T20Is but the Mumbai Indians star did not look comfortable at all in the middle.
Backing the costliest player of the IPL 2022 auction, Rahul Dravid said: “Ishan has been picked on his potential, his performance. Yes, you cannot specify this many games. Sometimes it’s a combination, sometimes it’s injuries. Never always give a player the same number of games, there cannot be a written number in stone whether it’s seven or six matches.”
