IPL 2021: With Hardik Pandya not bowling, Sunil Gavaskar votes for KKR’s Venkatesh Iyer as the ‘all-rounder India is looking for’

IPL 2021 – Venkatesh Iyer India All-Rounder?: Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar is mighty impressed with Venkatesh Iyer. According to Gavaskar, ‘Iyer can be the all-rounder India is looking for’. The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) star has been a revelation for the two-time champions. Iyer’s emergence comes in at a time when India are struggling to fill the all-rounder’s spot, with Hardik Pandya struggling to cope with his multiple injury issues – Follow all IPL 2021 LIVE Updates on InsideSport.co

Also Read: T20 World Cup: BCCI extremely worried, says ‘Hardik Pandya not bowling in IPL 2021 very unfortunate’

IPL 2021: With Hardik Pandya not bowling, Sunil Gavaskar backs KKR’s Venkatesh Iyer to be the “all-rounder that India is looking for”

IPL 2021 – Venkatesh Iyer India All-Rounder? In his Times of India column, Sunil Gavaskar lavished praise on KKR’s Venkatesh Iyer after being mightily impressed by his all-round skills. The former Indian captain wrote,

“In Venkatesh Iyer, Kolkata have unearthed a player who can be the all-rounder that India is looking for. His bowing is not express, but he gets the yorker right more than not and doesn’t let the batsman slog him. As a batsman, he plays upright, which gets into a great position to play the short ball, and he drives beautifully through the off-side like all left-handers seem to do.”

6⃣7⃣ Runs
4⃣9⃣ Balls
9⃣ Fours
1⃣ Six

Venkatesh Iyer set the stage on fire 🔥 & notched up his secoond half-century of #VIVOIPL. 👏 👏 #KKRvPBKS @KKRiders

Watch that knock 🎥👇https://t.co/IAPw6qga4D

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 1, 2021

IPL 2021 – Venkatesh Iyer India All-Rounder? In five games this season, Venkatesh Iyer has scored 193 runs, including two half-centuries at a strike rate of almost 142 on slow, sluggish pitches in the UAE. He scored a stunning 67 to guide Kolkata Knight Riders to 165 against Punjab Kings, and was entrusted with bowling the final over while defending the total, but failed to get his side over the line. Nonetheless, Iyer has bowled at an economy rate of less than 9 runs an over, chipping in with three wickets at an average of 21.33.

IPL 2021: With Hardik Pandya not bowling, Sunil Gavaskar backs KKR’s Venkatesh Iyer to be the “all-rounder that India is looking for”

• Venkatesh Iyer has lit up the IPL, scoring 193 runs in just five games including two fiftes.
• The left-hander, who bowls medium pace, has also chipped in with three wickets and has bowled the difficult overs for KKR in Andre Russell’s absence.
• India are on the lookout for a “new” all-rounder with Hardik Pandya continuing to struggle with injuries.
• The Mumbai Indians star is unlikely to bowl in Phase 2, as confirmed by head coach Mahela Jayawardene.
• His form with the bat has also been far from satisfactory, with only a solitary meaningful contribution in nine games.

IPL 2021: Venkatesh Iyer continues Midas touch, slams another half-century, could he replace Hardik Pandya?

IPL 2021 – Venkatesh Iyer India All-Rounder? Venkatesh Iyer’s emergence comes in at a crucial time with India especially on the look put for a fast-bowling all-rounder considering Hardik Pandya’s struggles. The Mumbai Indians star has been bogged down by injuries that have limited his playing time, and the 27-year-old is unlikely to be bowling in the ongoing IPL 2021.

 

“At the moment if we push too hard (to bowl), he (Hardik) might be an issue where he might even struggle and might not be an asset as a batsman,” Mumbai Indians coach Mahela Jayawardene confirmed. He added that Hardik Pandya is still some way off 100% fitness and it is unlikely that he would bowl in the ongoing IPL 2021 Phase 2. While it is unlikely that Iyer gets thrown into the national team set up on the back of five games, he could very well present to be an option for the Indian team, with Virat Kohli desperately needing to plug holes in his side.