‘Don’t have to make runs in every match’: KKR’s Venkatesh Iyer gives MASSIVE statement following SRH victory

The KKR vice-captain firmly stated that his enormous price tag has never put pressure on him and added that his focus is on making a meaningful impact for the team

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer believes that his Rs 23.75 crore price tag doesn’t mean that he has to play big knocks in every game, stressing that his focus is on making a meaningful impact for the team.

Re-signed by KKR using the Right to Match card at the mega auction, Iyer became the franchise’s most expensive signing and the third-costliest player in IPL.

But he had a lukewarm start to the new season, managing just 9 runs in the first two games as talks began to grow over the justification of his hefty price. However, Iyer shut down all his doubters with a brilliant innings of 60 runs from just 29 deliveries against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).

“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,” Iyer said at the post-match press conference.

“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,” Iyer added.

Asked whether the pressure of being the highest-paid player in KKR had finally been lifted, Iyer smiled and tossed the question back.

“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 20 lakh or 20 crore. I’m a player of the team who wants to contribute to the team’s victory,” Iyer said.

“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,” Iyer added.

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