'A Shot Usually Needed By Those Who Do Not Have Too Many Strokes': Venkatesh Iyer Leaves Mentor Unimpressed

Cricket Image for 'A Shot Usually Needed By Those Who Do Not Have Too Many Strokes': Venkatesh Iyer (Image Source: AFP)

Debutant Venkatesh Iyer had a chance to become a hero during the first T20I between India and New Zealand but he gave it straight to the hands of the fielder at short-third. 

Although Iyer had struck his first ball in international cricket to a well-timed four, on the second delivery, he tried to reverse sweep it and got out with India still needing five runs to win in the last over. 

His attempted sweep left his longtime coach, Dinesh Sharma, in Indore unimpressed who said it is a shot needed by those not having many strokes. 

“Reverse sweep is a shot usually needed by those who do not have too many strokes. God has given him such a gift that he can smash deliveries on the rise that may be out of the reach of others,” Sharma said as quoted by Indian Express. 

Dinesh was sure if Iyer had played it straight it would have gone for a six over extra cover. 

“It’s not like the reverse sweep can fetch you 10 runs if you nail it, you will still get only four. The ball he got out to, if he had hit it straighter I tell you it would have gone for six over extra cover. 

“It is okay now, it happened in the heat of the moment, but it can cost you at times. If he had won that match for the team, who knows, he could have given himself the next 10 games in the XI.”

Sharma revealed that he gave his feedback to Venkatesh after the game with a message: "Bad luck, but good attitude."