‘He’s got the ability to win games when he’s on’ – Brendon McCullum sees shades of Adam Gilchrist in Venkatesh Iyer

Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) batter Venkatesh Iyer has had a terrific start to his Indian Premier League (IPL) career so far. Also, his early blitz at the top has propelled KKR to two thumping wins against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Mumbai Indians (MI). Iyer has scored 41 and 53 in both these games and KKR have suddenly jumped to fourth on the points table.

KKR head coach Brendon McCullum is naturally happy with Iyer’s performance and said he can play shots all around the ground and can potentially develop into someone like Adam Gilchrist. McCullum further opined that Iyer, at times, can also be inconsistent due to his stroke-making.

McCullum praises Venkatesh Iyer

“Venkatesh Iyer on debut – I thought his composure was fantastic to watch. I think he might be one of those players who might end up inconsistent… with the way that he plays and the stroke-making that he possesses.

“But I think he’s got the ability to win games when he’s on. Think he could be one of those players who go hundred, hundred, zero, zero. He just might be one of those types, sort of Adam Gilchrist type of player. He’s got something about him,” McCullum said during his conversation with the IPL commentators.

During the first half of the IPL in India, the KKR openers failed to get going in the powerplay and that put some added pressure on the middle-order batters. But a break from the IPL gave the Knights’ management a chance to try Iyer at the top along with Shubman Gill. McCullum praised both the openers for their contribution in the two games so far.

“He’s a highly intelligent player as well for someone relatively inexperienced as well. I think the combination along with Shubman Gill is something that enthuses me as a fellow top-order batsman [myself] – the way they’re able to complement each other,” McCullum added.

Iyer and Gill added 81 runs against RCB for the opening wicket in KKR’s first outing in the UAE leg of IPL 2021. Iyer took some pressure of Gill, allowing the latter to bide his time and play some shots later in the innings.