'Who is this kid?' - Ricky Ponting recalls the first time he saw 'real talent' Venkatesh Iyer

Australian cricket legend and Delhi Capitals’ (DC) Head Coach Ricky Ponting has opened up on the first time that he cast his eyes on Venkatesh Iyer. Terming Iyer as a real talent, Ponting said that he saw Iyer for the first time in the first half of the 14th edition of the IPL.

Ponting also added that he had spoken to Brendon McCullum about Iyer in the first half of IPL 2021 and asked the Kiwi as to who was this kid who was batting in the nets. McCullum had told Ponting that Iyer was not playing for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the first half.

“Venkatesh Iyer, opened for Kolkata at the back half of the season – he’s a real talent. He didn’t play the first half and ended up bowling some overs as well. He’s an all-rounder. I spoke to Brendon McCullum actually in the first part of the tournament.

I saw him batting in the nets with us (Delhi Capitals) one day and I said to Brendon “Who is this kid? He’s not playing?’ He said ‘No, can’t get him in at the moment’ and whatever else,” said Ponting on The Grade Cricketer Podcast.

They got the kid at the top in the second half of the IPL: Ricky Ponting

Ricky Ponting also added that the KKR side came in with a completely different mindset in IPL Phase 2, and it was the ‘McCullum’ way of going berserk at the top. Ponting concluded by stating that Iyer was slotted in at the top of the order, and he did a good job.

“And then the rejig after the break, they came back with almost a completely different theory of how they want to play and it was a bit more Brendon’s way of going really hard at the top. So they got this kid at the top and he was very good,” concluded Ricky Ponting.

Venkatesh Iyer scored 370 runs in the second half of IPL 2021, and scored his runs at an average in excess of 40.