IPL 2021: MI vs KKR: Venkatesh Iyer credits this Indian legend for playing huge role in his batting
Kolkata Knight Riders outplayed Mumbai Indians in its IPL 2021 clash on Thursday, with Venkatesh Iyer turning out to be the latter's arch-nemesis. However, who does he credit for his resounding batting? Find out....
FollowFormer champion Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has been on a roll ever since the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 has resumed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In the two matches it has played since resumption, it has notched up good wins, as it is back in contention for the playoffs.
It outplayed defending champion Mumbai Indians (MI) by seven wickets at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. In the two matches, it has been opener Venkatesh Iyer, whose promising batting has grabbed many eyeballs, while his conducive knock of 53 against MI turned out to be remarkable.
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Speaking on his batting, Venkatesh has credited legendary former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly for inspiring him. "Honestly, KKR was the first franchise I wanted to get in because Sourav Ganguly was the captain initially, so I wanted to get into KKR first," he said in a video on IPL's website.
"Got picked by the franchise, so it was a dreamy moment for me. Everyone was very welcoming; I got a lot of gifts. I am a huge fan of Dada, he has got millions of fans around the globe, and I am one of them. He has played a huge role in my batting," he added.
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Venkatesh is based in Indore and has been playing in the domestic circuit for Madhya Pradesh since 2015. His Twenty20 stats are great, having scored 818 runs in 34 innings at a decent average of 38.95. After being roped in this season, his current stint with KKR is his maiden outing in the cash-rich-rich tournament.
"I used to bat right-handed when I was very young, but I wanted to exactly replicate Dada, how he hit sixes and the way he batted. He has played a very big role unknowingly in my life. I was really waiting for my opportunity, and I knew I am going to get my chance," he concluded.
