Venkatesh Iyer becomes the first KKR batter to score a hundred since McCullum in 2008

Kolkata Knight Riders' Venkatesh Iyer smashed the second century of IPL 2023, off 49 balls, against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday. Harry Brook of Sunrisers Hyderabad had scored an unbeaten 55-ball 100 against Knight Riders to become the season's first centurion. Venkatesh became the second Kolkata Knight Riders batter to score a hundred in the IPL after Brendon McCullum.

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Venkatesh Iyer becomes the second KKR batter to score a hundred in IPL

Brendon McCullum struck the first-ever century for KKR(158* off 73) against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the first-ever IPL match in 2008. The left-handed Iyer's previous best in the IPL was a 40-ball 83 which came against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad last week. This was also Venkatesh's maiden hundred in all T20s.

The Madhya Pradesh batter got dismissed for a 51-ball 104 in the 18th over after he played a reverse-scoop shot to the fielder at short third-man. His inning was filled with six fours and nine sixes.

Venkatesh turned made his IPL debut in 2021. He scored 370 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 128.47 and averaging 41.11. His ability to bowl medium-pace also made him an exciting all-round prospect. He earned his India cap later in 2021 in a T20I against New Zealand.