Last Update on: November 22nd, 2021 at 01:34 pm
Senior cricketer Robin Uthappa opined that Rohit Sharma, India‘s T20I captain, would have been pleased by the bowling performance of Venkatesh Iyer during the third T20I versus New Zealand on Sunday in Kolkata.
Venkatesh Iyer, who is been touted as the back-up to Hardik Pandya in the seam-bowling all-rounder’s role, didn’t bowl in the first two T20Is, but delivered down three overs at the Eden Gardens. He returned with impressive figures of 1/12 in 3 overs and bowled well to the likes of Martin Guptill and Tim Seifert.
Robin Uthappa reckons after looking at Iyer’s bowling on Sunday, Sharma will have plenty of confidence in the youngster going forward.
“The way Venkatesh Iyer bowled will give Rohit a lot more confidence to throw the ball to him in different situations in the future.
“I think it was a matter of Venkatesh Iyer earning Rohit’s respect as far as his bowling was concerned. With the way he bowled today, he actually did that,” Robin Uthappa told ESPNcricinfo.
They have to reevaluate if Venkatesh Iyer’s bowling is good enough in Australia: Robin Uthappa
Next year’s T20 World Cup is to be staged in Australia. Considering the uncertainties around the bowling fitness of Hardik Pandya, Venkatesh Iyer provides a really good alternative as a hard-hitting all-rounder.
Robin Uthappa feels that the management has understood that, pointing out that Iyer batted at number 6 and bowled a few overs.
“They have to reevaluate and (find out) if Venkatesh Iyer’s bowling is good enough in a place like Australia. They started that path today by actually giving him a bowl to see what he can do. Whether his all-round prowess can fit into the team moving forward towards that World Cup (remains to be seen),” the CSK batsman added.
The T20I series will be followed by two Tests, to be played in Kanpur (November 25-29) and Mumbai (December 3-7) before the team flies out for South Africa.
