IPL 2024: KKR’s Venkatesh Iyer recalls his ‘fruitful conversation’ with Sourav Ganguly

Kolkata Knight Riders batsman Venkatesh Iyer thanked former India skipper Sourav Ganguly, who is also the Director of Cricket for Delhi Capitals, for giving him invaluable suggestions on batting. The duo had a chat after the Indian Premier League match between KKR and DC at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata last month. The discussion indeed proved fruitful as Iyer was adjudged Player of the Match in KKR’s next match against Mumbai Indians, played at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday, May 3. During the post-match presentation, Iyer credited Ganguly with giving him key tips. Iyer even revealed the subject of the discussion between him and the former president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

“I am a big fan of dada (Sourav Ganguly). I went to ask him about my position and technical aspects. It was a fruitful conversation. It is reflected in my stance and other aspects in the nets,” Venkatesh Iyer said, according to Hindustan Times.

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“As a professional cricketer, I have to be flexible in terms of situation. When I started hitting the ball well, two more wickets fell and I thought I had to play the anchor role. This is the fourth or fifth time that Manish has gone a step further. This time he got to work. Instead of sending Russell and Ramandeep higher up, it is better to have Manish who can play the role of anchor. The ball held and it was a two-pace wicket. I’m trying to be a smarter cricketer. It would have been easy for me to go after Piyush Chawla and the fast bowlers. The team needed me to be there until the end,” he added.

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In the match against MI, Venkatesh Iyer scored a crucial knock of 70 off 52 balls to guide KKR to a defendable total of 169. The visitors were staggering at 5/57 at one point in the match. Iyer, along with Manish Pandey, weathered the storm to guide the visitors to a respectable total. Iyer’s vital knock consisted of six boundaries and three sixes. Pandey also produced an important knock of 42 off 31 balls.

MI did not get off to a good start during the run chase as they lost their leadoff batters to score 46 runs. Suryakumar Yadav staged a fightback and scored a half-century, but his brave knock was in vain as the five-time champions were bowled out for 145. KKR’s Australian speedster Mitchell Starc picked up four wickets against MI.