IND vs WI: Venkatesh Iyer Is The Most Versatile Player In This Indian Side, Says Ajay Jadeja

Former Indian player Ajay Jadeja said all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer is the most versatile player in the Indian cricket team at present. 

After thumping West Indies 3-0 in the ODI series, India handed a similar result to the visitors in the three-match T20I series. India outsmarted the Kieron Pollard-led side in the final T20I by 17 runs on Sunday.

Venkatesh Iyer’s all-round show in the third T20I

Venkatesh Iyer scored 35 runs from 19 balls at the strike rate of 184.21, he pummeled four boundaries and a couple of sixes.

Iyer came in to complete the final ball of the third over as Deepak Chahar left the field after suffering a hamstring injury. Iyer was hit for a six by Rovman Powell on the first ball. 

Yet Indian skipper Rohit Sharma showed faith in him and handed him a couple of overs more. Iyer got the wickets of West Indies skipper Kieron Pollard and Jason Holder. 

The Madhya Pradesh all-rounder has played some handy cameos in the lower-middle order, he amassed 92 runs from three innings at the strike rate of 184. 

Venkatesh Iyer seems the only sixth bowling option for India: Ajay Jadeja

Jadeja said that Iyer is the only player at the moment who can bowl and not just finish matches for India but also can bat up the order. 

“Venkatesh Iyer seems the only (sixth bowling) option for now. No other pure batter bowls. All others who have come in over the last couple of years have been pure batters. He is the only one who is doing it,” Jadeja said on Cricbuzz. 

“If there is the edge that somebody is going to get for bowling alongside batting, then Venkatesh Iyer seems to be the guy. He is actually an opening batsman as well. He can be the third opener if needed. He is your most versatile player at the moment in this Indian side,” he added. 

Suryakumar Yadav was adjudicated as the player of the series for accumulating 107 runs in the series at an average of 53.50, the most from an Indian batter in the series.

Also Read: IND vs WI: “I Just Try To Keep Things Simple” : Suryakumar Yadav On Acing The Finisher’s Role For Team In T20I Cricket