Venkatesh Iyer, the vice-captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), has candidly addressed the pressure associated with being the team’s costliest-ever acquisition. Purchased for a staggering Rs 23.75 crore at the mega auction last November, Iyer’s performance in the initial matches of the season had sparked debates about the justification of such a significant investment.
Despite scoring only 9 runs in KKR’s first two matches, Iyer silenced critics with a blistering knock of 60 runs off just 29 deliveries against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Thursday. This performance was instrumental in leading KKR to a commanding 80-run victory.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Iyer acknowledged the pressure but emphasized his focus on contributing to the team’s success rather than individual performance metrics. “I won’t lie, there is a little pressure. You guys talk so much. But being the highest-paid player (in KKR) does not mean I have to make runs in every match,” he stated. “It’s about how I am winning for the team and what impact I am able to make. The pressure is not about how much money I am getting or how many runs I have to make. That’s never been the pressure on me.”
When asked if his recent performance brought relief, Iyer responded with a question of his own, challenging the notion of pressure. “You tell me? The pressure will be released when? I keep saying this: After starting the IPL, it doesn’t matter if you’re getting Rs 20 lakh or Rs 20 crore. I’m a player of the team, who wants to contribute to the team’s victory. Sometimes there will be very tricky situations where my job will be to play out some overs, and even if I do that and don’t score runs, I have worked for my team,” he explained.
Iyer also touched upon the controversy surrounding the preparation of the Eden Gardens pitch, refusing to engage in debates about pitch conditions. “I never believe that the pitch should be like this or that. We are professional cricketers. So obviously we will adjust to it. But yes, if we get what we want in our home, it will be great for us,” he remarked.
Clarifying KKR’s approach to the game, Iyer dismissed the notion of ‘fearless’ cricket, instead highlighting a strategy of measured and strategic aggression. “The basic meaning of aggression is showing a positive intent. It’s about showing positive but correct intent. Aggression does not mean tonking every ball for sixes. It’s about how you understand the conditions, how you are able to maximise the conditions in your favour. That is what we as a team want to play,” he elaborated.
He further explained KKR’s tactical approach, “We want to be a team who understands the pitch and the conditions quickly and assess what is the par score on that pitch and always try to make 20 runs above-par. That is what aggression for KKR means.”