Venkatesh Iyer said he was focused on "impact" and not his eye-watering price tag after his batting blitz helped Kolkata Knight Riders thrash Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The left-handed batsman hammered 60 off 29 balls as Kolkata triumphed by 80 runs at their home Eden Gardens on Thursday in a rerun of last year's final -- which Kolkata also won.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Iyer, who Kolkata snapped up for $2.81 million in the November auction, proved his worth in a knock laced with seven fours and three sixes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The price was the third highest in the auction in Saudi Arabia, after Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer went for record sales of $3.21 million and $3.17 million respectively.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"You tell me if the pressure has been released," the 30-year-old Iyer said afterwards, beaming a wide smile.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I have been saying this constantly -- that when the IPL starts, the price tag does not matter."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Iyer came into the match with just nine runs from two innings in the previous three matches and the defending champions bottom of the table.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
After a middle-order stutter, Iyer took on the opposition attack in a 91-run fifth-wicket stand with fellow left-hander Rinku Singh, who hit 32 not out, to steer Kolkata to 200-6.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Aggression does not mean tonking every ball for a sixer," Iyer said on his controlled aggression and calculated risks.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It's about how you understand the conditions, and how you are able to maximise the conditions in your favour."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Iyer said that his performances should not be constantly measured purely in terms of big scores.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"There will be situations where my work will be to play just a few overs," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It's about the impact."<\/p>\r\n\r\n