'You have six overs, the powerplay, it's where...': Ex-India head coach's massive suggestion to struggling KKR vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer

'You have six overs, the powerplay, it's where...': Ex-India head coach's massive suggestion to struggling KKR vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer
Kolkata Knight Riders' Venkatesh Iyer plays a shot during the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata

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Venkatesh Iyer managed to score 135 runs in six innings.

KKR are currently on number seven in the points table tally.

Former India head coach Anil Kumble suggested Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to change their vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer's batting position to bring a change in his form in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Venkatesh Iyer is currently struggling in the cash-rich league. He managed to score 135 runs in six innings at an average of 22.50 and a strike rate of 139.17.

The left-handed batter has failed to justify his price after being brought by the defending champions KRR for Rs 23.75 crore in the mega auction. He managed to score just one fifty in the ongoing 18th edition of the tournament. After KKR's washed-out game against Punjab Kings (PBKS), Kumble suggested that bringing Venkatesh up the order could help him play his natural game as he likes to have pace on the ball.

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"They had an opportunity in this game to move Venky right up the order [in this game]. Open the batting with Sunil Narine and then bring in an Indian wicketkeeper. Anyway, they were looking to drop Ramandeep - okay, fine, get [Luvnith] Sisodia in, he's not a bad player, he can keep wicket. And bring [Anrich] Nortje because Nortje can play instead of Chetan Sakariya," Kumble said on ESPNcricinfo's Time Out show.

 

"[Venkatesh] needs that pace on the ball. You have six overs, the powerplay, it's where he can play his natural game, hit over the top. He's done it in the past, that's how he got KKR back into the playoffs when they were down and out in Dubai," he added.

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Venkatesh Iyer has batted in the middle order in this season and managed to cross the 40-run mark twice. The 30-year-old was prolific with the bat for KKR in his breakthrough season in 2021, where he accumulated 370 runs from 11 innings at an average of 41.11 and registered four half-centuries.

Defending champions KKR are currently struggling in the IPL 2025, they are currently on seventh in the points table with three wins in nine outings. Their last clash against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) washed out. KKR will now face Delhi Capitals (DC) on April 29 at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.