All-rounders in Indian cricket are a rare commodity and the newest entrant to the club, Venkatesh Iyer, knows only too well that he has to keep his focus on both aspects of the game in order to remain relevant.

The 26-year-old Madhya Pradesh man has been rewarded with a maiden call-up for the T20 International home series against New Zealand starting November 17 and knows that going forward, workload management would be an important focus area for him.

"My workload management has been good so far. I am an all-rounder so I have to be equally focussed on both aspects of the game. That's what I have been doing right from my age-group state level days. It's so far not been a very big issue," the suave Kolkata Kight Riders man tod PTI in an exclusive interaction.

For Iyer the endeavour is to display multiple skills across formats.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/dream-to-represent-india-has-been-fulfilled-avesh-khan-rejoices-after-selection-for-nz-t20is-428253">Dream to represent India has been fulfilled: Avesh Khan rejoices after selection for NZ T20Is</a>

"I have always worked hard on my red ball game and it has been my conscious effort not be one dimensional.

"If you have to play for India, you have to be consistent across formats and that's why I have put in a lot of work in both departments of the game.

"As much as I have worked on my batting, I have also worked on my bowling," said Iyer, who many like Harbhajan Singh believe can shock batters with extra pace.

His 370 runs in the IPL for KKR, along with steady medium pace that got him three wickets, brought him into national reckoning. He is being seen as a replacement of Hardik Pandya, who is still not fit to bowl and does not quite fit in as a pure batter.

Iyer, who has six half-centuries and seven wickets for Madhya Pradesh in Ranji Trophy, believes that it has been his consistency, not only in IPL but also in first-class cricket, that has helped get this far.

During the IPL in UAE, did he get a feeling that he would make it?

"I must say that it was not just about IPL that gave me belief that I could represent my country.

"When I was playing Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali for my state Madhya Pradesh, I always knew that if I carry on with good performances in domestic cricket, I would play for India one day," he said.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rahul-dravid-addresses-indias-fatigue-issue-with-cac-to-work-on-rotation-policy-with-jay-shah-report-428239">Rahul Dravid addresses India's fatigue issue with CAC, to work on rotation policy with Jay Shah: Report</a>

"I always had that belief."

Having lived in Indore, it was local coach Dinesh Sharma, who first tapped his talent as he made rapid strides while rising through the ranks of age-group cricket, captaining the U-23 state team.

When he touched base in the United Arab Emirates with the KKR team in the last week of August, he wouldn't have imagined that he would make such progress in a matter of months.

Two and half months later, he was sitting in his Delhi hotel room with Madhya Pradesh teammates when fellow national team entrant Avesh Khan broke the news to him.

"We had a match (vs Kerala) and it was Avesh who came to my room and informed that both of us have been selected. Obviously, there couldn't have been a better feeling," Iyer revealed while sitting with his teammates.

He was honest in his admission that while he was working on his dream, he didn't think it would be realised so soon.

"No, I never felt that life will take such a beautiful turn. I don't expect anything but believe in taking things as they come. Yes, I am very happy and excited as this is the dream you live for but frankly speaking, I never expected it to happen so soon," Iyer said.

The lesser known aspect about Iyer is that he once got a job offer in multi-national auditing company Deloitte but decided to pursue cricket with encouragement from his parents.

With an MBA degree in finance, he has cleared the foundation and inter-level exams of Chartered Accountancy. Iyer attributes his cricketing smarts to him being a diligent student.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/your-contribution-will-virat-kohli-pens-down-heartfelt-post-for-team-indias-outgoing-coaching-staff-428160">'Your contribution will...' - Virat Kohli pens down heartfelt post for Team India's outgoing coaching staff</a>

"(Being good at) academics helps your thinking and decision-making ability. It gives you an edge over others may be. Being a good student is something that has come naturally to me.

"It does give me a bit of edge over others," said the lanky man from Indore, who could well be Rohit Sharma's lethal weapon.&nbsp;

All-rounders in Indian cricket are a rare commodity and the newest entrant to the club, Venkatesh Iyer, knows only too well that he has to keep his focus on both aspects of the game in order to remain relevant.

All-rounders in Indian cricket are a rare commodity and the newest entrant to the club, Venkatesh Iyer, knows only too well that he has to keep his focus on both aspects of the game in order to remain relevant. The 26-year-old Madhya Pradesh man has been rewarded with a maiden call-up for the T20 International home series against New Zealand starting November 17 and knows that going forward, workload management would be an important focus area for him. "My workload management has been good so far. I am an all-rounder so I have to be equally focussed on both aspects of the game. That's what I have been doing right from my age-group state level days. It's so far not been a very big issue," the suave Kolkata Kight Riders man tod PTI in an exclusive interaction. For Iyer the endeavour is to display multiple skills across formats. ALSO READ: Dream to represent India has been fulfilled: Avesh Khan rejoices after selection for NZ T20Is "I have always worked hard on my red ball game and it has been my conscious effort not be one dimensional. "If you have to play for India, you have to be consistent across formats and that's why I have put in a lot of work in both departments of the game. "As much as I have worked on my batting, I have also worked on my bowling," said Iyer, who many like Harbhajan Singh believe can shock batters with extra pace. His 370 runs in the IPL for KKR, along with steady medium pace that got him three wickets, brought him into national reckoning. He is being seen as a replacement of Hardik Pandya, who is still not fit to bowl and does not quite fit in as a pure batter. Iyer, who has six half-centuries and seven wickets for Madhya Pradesh in Ranji Trophy, believes that it has been his consistency, not only in IPL but also in first-class cricket, that has helped get this far. During the IPL in UAE, did he get a feeling that he would make it? "I must say that it was not just about IPL that gave me belief that I could represent my country. "When I was playing Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali for my state Madhya Pradesh, I always knew that if I carry on with good performances in domestic cricket, I would play for India one day," he said. ALSO READ | Rahul Dravid addresses India's fatigue issue with CAC, to work on rotation policy with Jay Shah: Report "I always had that belief." Having lived in Indore, it was local coach Dinesh Sharma, who first tapped his talent as he made rapid strides while rising through the ranks of age-group cricket, captaining the U-23 state team. When he touched base in the United Arab Emirates with the KKR team in the last week of August, he wouldn't have imagined that he would make such progress in a matter of months. Two and half months later, he was sitting in his Delhi hotel room with Madhya Pradesh teammates when fellow national team entrant Avesh Khan broke the news to him. "We had a match (vs Kerala) and it was Avesh who came to my room and informed that both of us have been selected. Obviously, there couldn't have been a better feeling," Iyer revealed while sitting with his teammates. He was honest in his admission that while he was working on his dream, he didn't think it would be realised so soon. "No, I never felt that life will take such a beautiful turn. I don't expect anything but believe in taking things as they come. Yes, I am very happy and excited as this is the dream you live for but frankly speaking, I never expected it to happen so soon," Iyer said. The lesser known aspect about Iyer is that he once got a job offer in multi-national auditing company Deloitte but decided to pursue cricket with encouragement from his parents. With an MBA degree in finance, he has cleared the foundation and inter-level exams of Chartered Accountancy. Iyer attributes his cricketing smarts to him being a diligent student. ALSO READ | 'Your contribution will...' - Virat Kohli pens down heartfelt post for Team India's outgoing coaching staff "(Being good at) academics helps your thinking and decision-making ability. It gives you an edge over others may be. Being a good student is something that has come naturally to me. "It does give me a bit of edge over others," said the lanky man from Indore, who could well be Rohit Sharma's lethal weapon.

Always had the belief but didn't expect it to happen so soon, says Venkatesh Iyer after selection for NZ T20Is

Indian pacer Avesh Khan belonging to the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh&nbsp;has been called up for the T20 series against New Zealand, said that his dream of representing his country has come true. The 24-year-old is a right-arm fast bowler who plays for Delhi Capitals in the IPL and for Madhya Pradesh in domestic cricket.

Avesh, who took 24 wickets in the IPL 2021 for Delhi Capitals, deservedly received a national call-up and learned of it just after MP's Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 encounter against Kerala.&nbsp;

"Every cricketer has a dream that he plays for his country and he works hard to turn this dream into a reality. My dream has been fulfilled now,"&nbsp;Avesh informed PTI. For the unversed, the pacer has 100 first-class wickets from 27 matches.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rahul-dravid-addresses-indias-fatigue-issue-with-cac-to-work-on-rotation-policy-with-jay-shah-report-428239">Rahul Dravid addresses India's fatigue issue with CAC, to work on rotation policy with Jay Shah: Report</a>

Avesh stated that his performance in the previous domestic season as well as the Indian Premier League helped him get a national call-up.

Former cricketers like Amay Khurasiya, Chandrakant Pandit, Devendra Bundela, and Abbas Ali spotted his talent and guided him throughout his career, according to the right-arm speedster.

Ashiq&nbsp;Khan,&nbsp;Khan's&nbsp;father,&nbsp;recalled&nbsp;how&nbsp;he&nbsp;gave&nbsp;Avesh's&nbsp;aspirations&nbsp;wings. "My son first got associated with Indore Colts Cricket Club. Then Amay Khurasiya spotted his talent and took him to his own academy. After that he did not look back," his father remembered.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rohit-named-captain-gaikwad-avesh-harshal-make-the-cut-in-indias-15-man-squad-for-new-zealand-t20is-428049">Rohit named captain; Gaikwad, Avesh, Harshal make the cut in India's 15-man squad for New Zealand T20Is</a>

His&nbsp;father&nbsp;further&nbsp;stated&nbsp;that&nbsp;when&nbsp;Avesh&nbsp;arrived&nbsp;in&nbsp;Indore&nbsp;after&nbsp;three&nbsp;months,&nbsp;they&nbsp;immediately&nbsp;rushed&nbsp;to&nbsp;Khurasiya's&nbsp;house&nbsp;and&nbsp;sought&nbsp;his&nbsp;blessings.

India’s T20I squad for New Zealand series

Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Venkatesh Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Avesh Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Harshal Patel, Mohammed&nbsp;Siraj

Indian pacer Avesh Khan belonging to the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh has been called up for the T20 series against New Zealand, said that his dream of representing his country has come true.

Indian pacer Avesh Khan belonging to the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh has been called up for the T20 series against New Zealand, said that his dream of representing his country has come true. The 24-year-old is a right-arm fast bowler who plays for Delhi Capitals in the IPL and for Madhya Pradesh in domestic cricket. Avesh, who took 24 wickets in the IPL 2021 for Delhi Capitals, deservedly received a national call-up and learned of it just after MP's Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 encounter against Kerala. "Every cricketer has a dream that he plays for his country and he works hard to turn this dream into a reality. My dream has been fulfilled now," Avesh informed PTI. For the unversed, the pacer has 100 first-class wickets from 27 matches. ALSO READ: Rahul Dravid addresses India's fatigue issue with CAC, to work on rotation policy with Jay Shah: Report Avesh stated that his performance in the previous domestic season as well as the Indian Premier League helped him get a national call-up. Former cricketers like Amay Khurasiya, Chandrakant Pandit, Devendra Bundela, and Abbas Ali spotted his talent and guided him throughout his career, according to the right-arm speedster. Ashiq Khan, Khan's father, recalled how he gave Avesh's aspirations wings. "My son first got associated with Indore Colts Cricket Club. Then Amay Khurasiya spotted his talent and took him to his own academy. After that he did not look back," his father remembered. ALSO READ | Rohit named captain; Gaikwad, Avesh, Harshal make the cut in India's 15-man squad for New Zealand T20Is His father further stated that when Avesh arrived in Indore after three months, they immediately rushed to Khurasiya's house and sought his blessings. India’s T20I squad for New Zealand series Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Venkatesh Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Avesh Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj

Dream to represent India has been fulfilled: Avesh Khan rejoices after selection for NZ T20Is

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Always had the belief but didn't expect it to happen so soon, says Venkatesh Iyer after selection for NZ T20Is

Dream to represent India has been fulfilled: Avesh Khan rejoices after selection for NZ T20Is