Venkatesh Iyer was adjudged Player Of The Match in Qualifier 2 of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 between Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals (DC) and Eoin Morgan-led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, October 13.
Chasing the target Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) openers Shubman Gill and Venkatesh provided an excellent start to the team by adding 96 runs from 74 balls. After openers got out Kolkata Knight Riders faced a big batting collapse.
After winning Player Of The Match for his outstanding 55 runs off 41 balls, Venkatesh Iyer during the post-match presentation said he was just doing things that team had asked him to. He stated:
“I am doing what has been asked of me. I am very happy that we ended on the winning side. There is no difference. I came out and played the way I want to play.
Venkatesh Iyer also said he was “grateful” to the management for giving him the freedom to bat the way he wanted to. Also, Iyer told that today he played his natural game after restricting himself in the past couple of games. Venkatesh Iyer elaborated:
“I am grateful to the management. It is a wonderful place to come and play. I think in the past couple of games, I have been trying to restrict myself a bit as I wanted to stay till the end. But then I thought it is not me. I was losing out on the present trying to be a bit conservative.”
Further Venkatesh Iyer lauded his opening partner Shubaman Gill and termed him as a “wonderful strokeplayer”. He asserted:
“Gill is an extremely wonderful strokeplayer and we complement each other. Heard the news (about being asked to stay back in the Indian bio-bubble for the T20 WC) this morning, but my entire focus was on tonight’s game.”
