IPL 2021: Sanjay Manjrekar suggests this uncapped Indian player could fetch 12-14 crores in mega-auction

The 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has seen several uncapped young Indian players make their mark whether it is Ruturaj Gaikwad fr Chennai Super Kings (CSK), or Avesh Khan for Delhi Capitals (DC), Harshal Patel for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) or Rahul Tripathi for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). However, one such person has taken the second half of the 14th edition of the cash-rich league by storm and it is none other than KKR all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer.

Iyer, an MBA graduate and a qualified CA has impressed one and all and left everyone wondering where was he all this while. Iyer made his IPL debut against RCB and played an unbeaten innings of 41 runs off 27 balls. But it was the innings against Mumbai Indians where he made everyone sit up and take notice.

Iyer took on MI's three-pronged international pace attack of Trent Boult, Adam Milne and Jasprit Bumrah and smashed them all around the park as he notched up his maiden half-century in the IPL.

In the last two games, Iyer the all-rounder has come to the fore with exceptional fielding and crucial overs. Iyer picked two important wickets against Delhi Capitals bowling at the death.

Commentator and former India player Sanjay Manjrekar has suggested that the 26-year old could rake in moolah at the next IPL player auction since it's going to be a mega one. Many experts and cricketers have said that Iyer looks like a player who belongs to this stage playing fearless cricket.

Talking about how much Iyer could earn in the mega-auction on ESPN Cricinfo, Manjrekar said, "I'm thinking 12-14 crores because this is not a kind of a fluke show. I was looking at his First-Class numbers and his List A record is outstanding. His average is 47, strikes at 92. That is his T20 record in domestic cricket, not counting the IPL. His strike rate is high, he averages 37. So this is a guy who knows how to bat. Plus, he is a bowler, and in the last match, he has shown that he can bowl the tough overs too. So he is somebody who is going to fetch a very high price.

"Today, I focussed on the way he bats. Very interestingly, he bats a lot on the backfoot. Looks to pull, play the cut. So this is a batter who is not going down the wicket and trying to hit forcing everything. He is staying on backfoot, cutting and pulling and then he’s got a big stride forward. I see him more as a real qualified T20 game-changer than somebody having a couple of good weeks," Manjrekar further added.