IPL 2022: Venkatesh Iyer is a team man – Shreyas Iyer heaps praise on the opener

Kolkata Knight Riders captain Shreyas Iyer has showered praise on Venkatesh Iyer before the upcoming 15th season of the Indian Premier League.

The left-hander had impressed in his maiden season of the IPL as he scored 370 runs in 10 matches in the 2021 edition at an average of 41.11 and a strike rate of 128.47.

Thus, he played a key role in helping his team qualify for the final of the last season. Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer has shared the dressing room with Venkatesh Iyer while playing for the national team. Venkatesh opens the innings for KKR in the IPL but he was asked to do a completely different role for the Men in Blue as he was asked to finish the innings.

However, the left-hander from Madhya Pradesh was able to grab his opportunity with both hands as he did a decent job while batting in the lower-middle order. The southpaw has scored 133 runs in nine T20Is at an average of 33.25 and he has also scalped five wickets.

Thus, Shreyas, who will be leading KKR in the upcoming season, stated that Venkatesh is a proper team man and will do anything that benefits the team. The KKR skipper revealed they haven’t decided Venkatesh Iyer’s batting position for the upcoming IPL.

“We have not yet decided his batting position. We are yet to get out of quarantine and have chats with coaches and management. I had a brief chat with him during our stint for Team India, he’s very flexible in terms of whatever position we put him into play,” said Shreyas in a virtual interaction on Saturday.

“Obviously he’s done great as an opener last year for KKR, that will be at the back of the mind. He’s a team man. I’ve seen that on the field. He always talks about winning. That’s the type of character we need in our team, one who is ready to go out there and show that relentless,” he further added.

On the other hand, Shreyas Iyer had earlier revealed that he would want to bat at number three for KKR in the upcoming season. Iyer had scored 204 runs in three T20Is against Sri Lanka while batting one down and had remained unbeaten throughout the series.

“For me personally, I feel No. 3 is my batting position because that’s the position I love to bat and have been batting for very long. But I’m flexible whatever the team requires, I’m very comfortable with that. Come what may, I’m ready to explore.”

KKR will begin their IPL 2022 campaign against Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium on 26th March.