Over the last year, there hasn’t been a cricketer in India who has risen to prominence as quickly as all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer. Till the end of the 2021 Indian Premier League’s (IPL) first leg, he had not played a single game in the cash-rich league but at the end of the competition, he was retained by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)  and got a call-up to the Indian team. 

Recalling his memorable journey with KKR, Iyer paid gratitude to the franchise for the support they gave him and remembered how he was purchased by the two-time champions after going unsold twice at the auction. 

In an interview on Backstage with Boria, Iyer said, “Huge thanks to KKR. Had it not been for KKR, I wouldn’t have been anywhere. I had a decent Mushtaq Ali last year – a few good scores and one particular innings where I finished the game for my side.

“With these knocks coming in, KKR scouted me and they picked me in the auction. It was down to the wire in the auction. I was unsold twice and then picked by KKR in the final round.”

Despite not getting a chance in the playing XI in the first seven games of IPL 2021, Iyer credited KKR for supporting him during the period. 

“Once I was in KKR, there was a point where I felt like I was somewhere, I am doing something correct in my life. Then the first phase happened and I did not get my opportunity. But, thanks to KKR for believing in me and making me understand that even though I am not playing, I am there in the mix, ” said Iyer.

He added, “They did not ignore me altogether or any player for that matter. They always kept pushing me that I’ll play, and when I play, I am going to do well.

Iyer further claimed that it was because of the team that he was able to produce the sort of performances he did and lauded the spirit in the KKR dressing room. 

“That spirit that KKR showed brought out the best in me. It would be very wrong if I say that it was me who did that. It was the team that made me do it, which is something I would like to cherish,” said the left-handed batter. 

Opening the batting for Eoin Morgan & Co., Iyer finished the season with 370 runs in 10 innings at an average of 41.11. He also chipped with three scalps with the ball. 

Iyer made his T20I debut for India in a three-match home series against New Zealand in November last year while he has earned the first ODI call-up of his career for the upcoming away series against South Africa. 

Ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction, Iyer has been retained by KKR for Rs 8 crore. The 2021 runner’s-up have also kept Andre Rusell, Sunil Narine, and Varun Chakravarthy in their roaster ahead of the new season.