Exclusive - Venkatesh Iyer Is Hardik Pandya's Replacement For ODIs Against South Africa: Coach Dinesh Sharma

If you have the ability to embrace patience and keep striving at the same time to achieve your goals — and out of the blue, one day, the opportunity bangs at your doorstep then you are definitely in the ranks of Venkatesh Iyer.

The 27-year-old Madhya Pradesh all-rounder, even in his fairytale dreams, wouldn’t have imagined that things might gallop for him in the span of just four months.

After making his debut for Madhya Pradesh in List A cricket in 2015, Venkatesh had to wait for six years to showcase his talent in the cash-rich league.

In the meantime, the Indore-born player, who also happens to be an MBA graduate in finance from Institute of Management Studies – Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya (IMS-DAVV), rejected an offer from global giant Deloitte to plump for his sporting career.

According to Dinesh Sharma, coach of Venkatesh Iyer at Maharaja Yeshwantrao Cricket Club (MYCC) in Indore, the player was looked more as a pinch-hitter who could bowl as well.

It was Madhya Pradesh head coach Chandrakant Pandit who promoted Venkatesh to open the batting for the state team.

Venkatesh came into the spotlight when he hammered 198 runs off 146 balls in a Group B match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2020-21 against Punjab at the Holkar Stadium.

Iyer might have missed the opportunity of scoring a splendorous double-hundred but he grabbed the attention of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) CEO Venky Mysore and soon he was signed by the franchise in February 2021.

“Actually he used to bat more often at No. 6 position in the Madhya Pradesh team in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he wouldn’t get an opportunity to make a big score in that position,” Sharma told Cricket Addictor in an exclusive interview.

“So I planned and decided to open him in the local tournaments as I thought his potential is to score more runs and not just be restricted to finish the games. I personally felt if he had to play in the IPL, he should start making the habit of scoring enough runs at the top.

“MP head coach Chandrakant Pandit promoted him to open against Punjab in one game and he banked on the opportunity by scoring 198 runs. The complete transition of his career took place at that point as he was noticed by Venky Mysore. Subsequently, he was called for trials and was assured of his selection for them in the IPL,” he added.

Also Read: Extremely Grateful To KKR Management For Putting Faith In Me, Says Venkatesh Iyer

Venkatesh was definitely the revelation of IPL 2021 as he turned the fortunes of KKR with his power-hitting spree against the best bowlers in the business.

The left-handed batter scored 370 runs from 10 innings in the second phase of IPL 2021 at the strike rate of 128.41.

Not only was he retained by the franchise with the likes of Sunil Narine and Andre Russell for IPL 2022, but also forced his case to break into the international stage.

Venkatesh Iyer is a perfect team player, can settle in any position: Dinesh Sharma

Venkatesh made his T20I debut against New Zealand in Jaipur and had clearly expressed his willingness to bat in any position.

In the New Zealand T20I series, Team India started a new adventure in white-ball cricket under the leadership of Rohit Sharma and Indian batting great Rahul Dravid as the head coach.

Venkatesh was twice slotted to bat at No.6 and in the second match in Ranchi was played at No.3. He made the scores of 4, 12*, 20 and picked the wicket of Adam Milne in the final T20I match.

Dinesh Sharma said that Venkatesh’s disposition to bat in any given order wasn’t something new for him.

“Earlier, he used to open the innings (in Club cricket) and when he entered the domestic arena, the opening slot wasn’t vacant at that point, so he was played in the middle-order. He is a perfect team player, can settle in any position and play his innings according to the situation of the game,” Dinesh recalled.

“In the Madhya Pradesh team, he was being floated in the No. 4, 5 & 6 positions. Sometimes I do ask him ‘Don’t you feel irritated when they change your batting order regularly’ but he responds by saying ‘It doesn’t bother me and I am ready to bat anywhere they want me’.

Also Read: Personally, I Always Wanted To Evolve As An All-rounder – Venkatesh Iyer

Venkatesh Iyer is the replacement for Hardik Pandya on this tour: Dinesh Sharma

The 27-year-old is part of India’s 19-member ODI squad for the three-match ODI series against South Africa. Venkatesh has the opportunity to make his ODI debut given he can provide some crucial overs in the middle and also hit big runs with his impressive shots.

Venkatesh scored 379 runs from six innings in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2021-22 and slammed centuries, while batting in the middle-order, against Chandigarh and Kerala.

Dinesh Sharma is confident about his ward getting to play his first 50-over match for India and the coach firmly believes that Venkatesh is a replacement for Hardik Pandya as an all-rounder in this series.

“He is the replacement for Hardik Pandya on this tour and I had a conversation with him, he is being given both bat and bowling in net sessions,” he said.

“He should deserve a chance in the first game as he seems to be in good form. He also scored runs consistently in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. I am confident about him playing the first match and for the rest, his performance will speak about him.

“A player like him who can bowl and bat together and is ready to bat at any position than any captain and coach would want him in their team,” he further added.

I hope someday he plays Test cricket: Dinesh Sharma

Recently, the lanky all-rounder revealed that he wished to play a Test match for the Indian team. Dinesh said that the player has the caliber to perform and adapt in the red-ball format with his batting stance.

“A player’s true potential is measured when he plays Test cricket and any cricketer who plays that format is deemed to be a great player. Every player has a desire to play a Test match for his nation,” Dinesh mentioned.

“As far as I have seen him he does not play any shot without judgment and has the ability to last longer at the crease. I hope someday he plays Test cricket even though it’s too early to think about it,” he concluded.

India will play their first ODI match against South Africa on Wednesday (January 19) at the Boland Park in Paarl.

Also Read: To Make India Win In The Test Cricket Is Actually My Goal– Venkatesh Iyer