Venkatesh Iyer Emphasizes Adaptability Over Home Advantage for KKR

Venkatesh Iyer's Perspective on Pitch Conditions

In Kolkata, Venkatesh Iyer, the vice-captain of Kolkata Knight Riders, expressed that he does not focus on creating specific pitch conditions at their home ground. As a seasoned cricketer, he aims to adapt to whatever the pitch offers. Nonetheless, he acknowledged that favorable conditions at Eden Gardens would benefit the defending champions.

The discussion surrounding home advantage intensified when Eden's pitch curator, Sujan Mukherjee, declined the request from KKR's captain, Ajinkya Rahane, to prepare tracks conducive to spin bowling for the current Indian Premier League (IPL) season.

Rahane's comments followed a disappointing performance where their key spinner, Varun Chakravarthy, faced significant challenges during a 43-run loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the league's opening match.

After KKR's impressive 80-run victory against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Eden, Iyer shared his thoughts on the importance of adapting to the pitch. He stated that while he believes in adjusting to the conditions, having the right pitch would certainly be advantageous for the team.

"We bowled exceptionally well and utilized the conditions effectively. I don’t think the pitch should be tailored to our needs; as professionals, we must adapt. However, having favorable conditions at home would certainly help us," Venkatesh remarked during the post-match press conference.

KKR's strategy for success revolves around adaptability, especially after being put to bat first against the Sunrisers. Following an entertaining innings from Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Iyer and Rinku Singh worked together to shift the momentum in KKR's favor.

After struggling at 122/4 after 15 overs, the duo formed a remarkable partnership, scoring 91 runs in just 41 balls, propelling the team to a total of 200/6, which transformed a manageable target for SRH into a challenging one.

Iyer, who scored 60 runs off 29 balls, explained his approach, emphasizing the importance of taking a few deliveries to gauge the pitch rather than attacking aggressively from the outset.

"The messages from Ajinkya Rahane and Raghuvanshi during the time-out helped us realize that the pitch wasn’t easy for aggressive batting. We needed to take our time. The ball was gripping and turning, so it was crucial to understand the pitch's behavior before going all out," he noted, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.

"I had the advantage of knowing that with Rinku, Ramandeep Singh, and Andre Russell in the lineup, I could afford to take my time. The plan was to assess the pitch first and then respond accordingly," he added.

This strategy paid off, as Iyer and Rinku accelerated their scoring in the 15th over, pushing KKR to a competitive total of 200/6. In response, the Sunrisers struggled during the powerplay, losing their top order without causing significant damage to KKR.

Hyderabad needed a remarkable turnaround to secure a win, but that moment never materialized, leading to their defeat by 80 runs.