‘You will be KKR's find this season' - Venkatesh Iyer reveals Harbhajan Singh had predicted his emergence

Kolkata Knight Riders’ resurgence in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 was parallel to Venkatesh Iyer’s metoric rise. The all-rounder made his debut in the UAE leg of the competition and changed KKR’s fortunes with his blitzes at the top. While the swashbuckling opener played several staggering knocks, his ability to chip in with few overs made him an even greater asset.

He thus was instrumental in taking the Eoin Morgan-led side to final this year. Impressed by his stellar show, the BCCI selectors awarded Venkatesh a place in the Indian team for the three-match T20I series against New Zealand. Making his debut in the first T20I in Jaipur on Wednesday (November 17), the southpaw smashed a crucial boundary in the first ball of the final over.

Harbhajan Singh had predicted Venkatesh Iyer’s rise 

Although the batter was dismissed on the very next delivery, India eventually won the game by five wickets. Meanwhile, Iyer, in an interaction with ESPNcricinfo, revealed that veteran Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, his teammate at KKR, had predicted his emergence even before his IPL debut.

“Harbhajan Singh told me straight to my face when the IPL began. I was not even a part of the set-up and he saw me in a couple of net sessions. He told me ‘you will be KKR’s find this season; I have complete faith in you and when you get the opportunity, you will definitely be able to do it’,” Iyer revealed.

“And to be honest, I did not believe that. I was like why is this guy telling me so much when he hasn’t even seen me bat in practice games. I thought that it was just the good person inside him telling me, comforting me; but I am really happy that it turned out to be slightly true. So that was something that really warmed my heart,” the 26-year-old added.

Meanwhile, the Men in Blue are now 1-0 up in the three-match series. Hence a win in the next game, which is scheduled to be played at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi on Friday (November 19), would seal the deal for them. Venkatesh will also be determined to put up a substantial show.