Mumbai: Impressed with KKR’s Venkatesh Iyer’s all-rounder performance, former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar lavished high praise on Iyer and feels he can easily go for 12-14 crores in the next year’s India Premier League mega auction.
It would not be wrong to say that Kolkata Knight Riders’ success in the UAE leg of IPL has coincided with young opener Venkatesh Iyer’s rise as a batter. Iyer, who made his grand debut for KKR in the second leg. He began with an unbeaten 41 against Royal Challengers Bangalore, before registering his maiden IPL fifty against Mumbai Indians. He then proceeded to shine with the ball, picking up 2/29 against Delhi Capitals and 1/30 against Punjab Kings, he got his second fifty of the season against PBKS.
The 𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗞𝗬 𝗜𝗬𝗘𝗥 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗪 continues in Dubai 😍
The young-gun brings up his second IPL fifty! 👌#KKRvPBKS #KKR #AmiKKR #IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/kDuzGsBy10
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) October 1, 2021
Iyer’s T20 record is also very impressive even outside of the IPL, according to Manjrekar, and given his present form, Manjrekar feels Iyer will fetch a big bucks in the next auction and attract a fierce bidding competition among the owners.
“I’m thinking 12-14 crores because this is not a kind of a fluke show. I was looking at his First-Class numbers and his List A record is outstanding. His average is 47, strikes at 92. That is his T20 record in domestic cricket, not counting the IPL. His strike rate is high, he averages 37. So this is a guy who knows how to bat. Plus, he is a bowler, and in the last match, he has shown that he can bowl the tough overs too. So he is somebody who is going to fetch a very high price,” Manjrekar was quoted as saying to ESPNCricinfo.
Only getting better 💪#VenkateshIyer #KKRvPBKS #KKR #AmiKKR #KorboLorboJeetbo #আমিKKR #IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/6wT3O59PES
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) October 2, 2021
Manjrekar believes Iyer will be a long-term player rather than a one-season haul.
“Today, I focussed on the way he bats. Very interestingly, he bats a lot on the backfoot. Looks to pull, play the cut. So this is a batter who is not going down the wicket and trying to hit forcing everything. He is staying on backfoot, cutting and pulling and then he’s got a big stride forward. I see him more as a real qualified T20 game-changer than somebody having a couple of good weeks,” Manjrekar added.
