Iyer’s first appearance for Lancashire is slated for July 28, when they face Kent. His selection was influenced by Phil Salt, his teammate at Kolkata Knight Riders during the successful IPL campaign earlier this year.
Salt recommended Iyer to the club following his impressive performances, which included half-centuries against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the qualifying round and the final.
The stint with Lancashire will span five weeks for Iyer. He is scheduled to return to India prior to the commencement of the Duleep Trophy on September 5, which marks the beginning of the domestic cricket season in the country.
“This is a deal we have worked hard to complete. Venkatesh will add experience to a young side during the One-Day Cup while providing an explosive batting option in the middle-order and another seam bowler that we can turn to with the ball,” IANS quoted Lancashire’s Director of Cricket Mark Chilton as saying.
“He will also be available for our County Championship matches against Surrey and Hampshire towards the end of August and gives us another high-quality overseas option to select from,” he added.
Iyer cemented his position as a leading top-order batsman during the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League, playing a pivotal role in Kolkata Knight Riders’ thrilling journey to the championship match. Following the resumption of the tournament after the COVID-19 hiatus, Iyer made his first appearance and showcased his skills on the field.
In the wake of his impressive performances in the IPL, Iyer’s career reached new heights as he was selected to represent India in both limited-overs formats. His consistent displays of batting prowess earned him a well-deserved spot in the national team, marking a significant milestone in his cricketing journey.
Iyer has made a complete recovery from the numerous injuries that had restricted his role to solely batting until the middle of the previous year. He now offers a valuable seam bowling option as well.
“I am incredibly excited to head over to England and to have the opportunity to play county cricket for the first time in my career. Lancashire is a very historic county with a long history of welcoming Indian players to their Club,” Iyer said in a statement.
“To test my skills in both one-day and first-class cricket in English conditions is going to really benefit my game. I hope that I can entertain the fans and help my Lancashire team-mates to achieve their targets in both formats this summer.,” he added.
Iyer has demonstrated his batting prowess in first-class cricket, amassing an impressive tally of runs across 32 innings. His average stands at a commendable 37.73, highlighted by a single century. Complementing his batting skills, Iyer has also proven effective with the ball, claiming 15 wickets with his right-arm medium pace.
In the realm of List A cricket, Iyer’s performances have been equally noteworthy. Over the course of 40 innings, he has accumulated a substantial 1458 runs. His record in the 50-over format boasts an impressive four centuries and five half-centuries. Iyer’s abilities have also earned him recognition on the international stage, as he represented India in two ODIs in January 2022.
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