IND vs WI: Venkatesh Iyer Should Be Given A Long Rope In T20s For Indian Team: Wasim Jaffer

Former Indian batter Wasim Jaffer said that Indian team management should consider all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer owing to the long-term plans. 

India eked out West Indies in an eight-run win in the second T20I match on Friday as the Rohit Sharma-led side clinched the T20I series with an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Venkatesh Iyer blazed 33 runs off 18 balls

India posted 186/5 in the first innings after Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant, who failed to score runs in the first match, returned with brisk half-centuries. Pant remained unbeaten on 52 from 28 balls and was involved in a partnership of 76 runs from 35 balls with Venkatesh Iyer who made 33 off 18 balls.

Iyer started his innings with a boundary, fetched through an inside edge off Roston Chase’s flatter delivery. The lanky player smashed Sheldon Cottrell for successive fours in the 16th over. 

Iyer clobbered West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder for a six over deep mid-wicket, he smashed four boundaries and a six before his stumps were crashed by Romario Shepherd in the final over of India’s innings.  

Venkatesh Iyer can finish games: Wasim Jaffer

Jaffer does not just want the Madhya Pradesh player to get more opportunities in the shortest format but also feels that he should be given a long rope in ODI cricket as well.

“Venkatesh Iyer should be given a long rope in T20s as his game suits this format. But, even in one-dayers, it won’t be a bad idea to give him more games.

“He gives you two dimensions – he bats, he bowls. He can play up the order, he can finish games. That is what I like about him,” Jaffer told ESPNCricinfo. 

“We have all seen what Venkatesh Iyer does at the top of the order for KKR. But for him to come in at the end and feature in that partnership with (Rishabh) Pant, it was very crucial. It was very heartening to see a youngster like him do so well. It is not easy for him.

“He is playing his first few international games. Yet, he came out and hit those big sixes straightaway in what was a fine knock,” he added. 

Venkatesh Iyer was one of the four players retained by IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) after his stellar show with the bat in IPL 2021. He scored 370 runs from 10 innings in the second phase of the tournament.

Also Read: IND vs WI: Venkatesh Iyer Read The Situation Really Well: Rishabh Pant