The former Team India cricketer Wasim Jaffer has made a huge announcement about the all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer following the fact that the youngster had a huge impact on the field in the role of finisher during the recent T20I game with West Indies.
Jaffer said that Venkatesh Iyer’s abilities across all areas and recent performances had made him “ahead” of Hardik Pandya in the race for the sought-after all-rounder’s slot in the team to play in 2022’s T20 World Cup later this year.
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Jaffer acknowledged that Iyer’s bowling ability gives him the “edge” and surely makes him a “real contender now.”
“I am surprised how good he is playing as a number six batter. We have seen him as an opener, but for him to come out and get adapted so well at number six and finish games is outstanding. Plus, the way he has bowled as well and got a couple of important wickets gives him an edge going into the World Cup, and I feel he is a real contender now,” Jaffer stated.
In the 3-match T20I match in the recent T20I series against West Indies, Venkatesh finished as the second-highest run-getter in India with 92 runs, which is an incredible strike rate of 184.
Venkatesh was also India’s fourth-best bowler, taking two wickets at an incredible rate of 13.50. In this T20I series.
Jaffer continued to discuss how the coming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 could be a key event for Hardik Pandya, who hopes to be a part of India’s national squad as an All-Rounder.
“I feel, at this point, he [Venkatesh Iyer] is a little bit ahead because you don’t know if Hardik Pandya is bowling now, how to fit he is… How the IPL goes for Pandya will play a very key role. But I think at this point, Iyer is ahead of Pandya,” Jaffer stated.
