Former New Zealand player Mitchell McClenaghan has called Venkatesh Iyer the unsung hero of KKR for victory in IPL 2024. The former Kiwi pacer also feels that Venkatesh Iyer did a wonderful job in the playoffs too.
Venkatesh Iyer played a stunning knock of 52 runs in IPL 2024 final. With his quickfire unbeaten 52 of 26 balls, he ensured KKR chased down the target as fans expected them to. KKR needed just 114 runs for victory and Iyer helped them to chase down within 11 overs.
Notably, Phil Salt left IPL 2024 during the playoffs. The England batter slammed 435 runs in 12 games in IPL 2024 and ended with the second most runs for the team. He has a strike rate of 182+. He scored 4 half-centuries.
However, Iyer slammed two half-centuries in Qualifier 1 and Qualifier 2 when the KKR opener did not get an amazing start like they used to get with the Sunil-Salt pair in the league stage.
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Mitchell McCleanaghan lauds Venkatesh Iyer
Is Venkatesh Iyer the unsung hero of KKR this season? ✨#IPL2024 #IPLfinal #KKRvSRH @Mitch_Savage pic.twitter.com/ptAJz91I5Z
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) May 27, 2024
While speaking to ESPN Cricinfo, 37-year-old Mitchell McCleanaghan termed Iyer as the unsung hero of KKR for rising up to the occasion in the absence of Salt.
“I think probably the young, unsung hero of KKR, when Phil Salt left and he built up quite nicely was Venkatesh Iyer. His last run in since that 70 scored at Mumbai, the 51 not out against SRH in the first qualifier and then again tonight in difficult conditions to come out and play the way he did really sealed the deal nicely”, he said.
Notably, Venkatesh Iyer slammed 370 runs in 13 innings with 5 unbeaten knocks. At an average of 45+, the left-handed batter shattered 4 half-centuries at a strike rate of 158+. After Narine and Salt, he was the third-highest run-getter for the team.
KKR showed a lot of teamwork for victories in IPL 2024
However, since KKR had too many players giving their best show in IPL 2024, Iyer’s batting show went under hindsight. For instance, Narine finished as the leading run-getter for the side and also scalped 17 wickets for the team.
Andre Russell was another all-rounder who showcased a stunning form. In 15 games, he bagged 19 wickets at 10.05 economy and also slammed 222 runs in 9 innings at 185+ strike rate.
Even in bowling, KKR has impressive teamwork with bowlers like Mitchell Starc, Varun Chakravarthy, Vaibhav Arora, and Harshit Rana, getting more the 10 wickets each.
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