Venkatesh Iyer has become the latest sensation to emerge from the Indian Premier League (IPL). Not only has the 26-year-old’s temprament and technique helped Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) make a winning start in the UAE, but his backstory about quitting a potential corporate life for cricket has won fans’ hearts.    

Iyer made his IPL debut against a star studded Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on September 20. He ended up scoring the winning runs his first match, smashing 41 runs off
just 27 balls.

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His dream run continued in his second game, against champions Mumbai Indians, scoring 53 off 30 deliveries to help his side to two wins from two since the restart in the UAE. 

The left-handed batsman plays for Madhya Pradesh in the domestic circuit.
He made his T20 debut in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2015 against Railways. He
picked up his first wicket in that match.

In an interview with ESPN he revealed that he had landed a job
with renowned accounting firm Deloitte. This would be a dream job for many but Iyer
chose to give it up and pursue his passion cricket. The decision paid off and
he ended up making his Ranji Trophy debut soon after.

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He told ESPN, “I knew I wasn’t going to take up
the offer, I would’ve had to move cities, and that would’ve meant the end of my
cricket. We all need a Plan B in life, right? So my MBA was just that. My
parents anyway wanted me to complete a basic degree. Dad was a Human Resources
consultant, mom spent many years in hospital administration. A basic degree is
all they asked of me. With their help and of course the faculty at college, I
was able to focus equally on both academics and cricket.”

He was the highest run getter in the 2020-21 season in the Syed Mushtaq
Ali Trophy. He amassed 227 runs in five innings with an average of 75.66 and a
very good strike rate of 149.34. Continuing his good run of form, he smashed
198 runs off 146 balls against Punjab in the Vijay Hazare Trophy which is a
one-day competition.

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He did not manage to get a place in KKR’s starting line-up in the
first half of the season but with this knock he is bound to get a few more
chances. He was acquired by the Knight Riders for a sum of Rs 20 lakh in the
IPL auction which seems like a bargain considering his current form.