KKR's Venkatesh Iyer deflects question on price-tag pressure with a smile

Venkatesh Iyer denies feeling any pressure from being the costliest-ever Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) player and focuses solely on how he can contribute to benefit the team's performance. The vice-captain of the defending champions was bought for a massive Rs 23.75 crore at the mega auction last November. Iyer scored just 9 runs in KKR's first two matches of this season, sparking discussions about whether the significant investment was warranted.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Addressing the uncertainties surrounding his form, he delivered a commanding performance with his blistering knock of 60 runs off just 29 deliveries against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Thursday, leading KKR to a massive 80-run victory."I won't lie, there is a little pressure. You guys talk so much. But being the highest-paid player (in KKR) does not mean I have to make runs in every match," Iyer said candidly at the post-match press conference."It's about how I am winning for the team and what impact I am able to make. The pressure is not about how much money I am getting or how many runs I have to make. That's never been the pressure on me," he said firmly.Did it bring some relief for him? Iyer asked a question of his own in response to that query. "You tell me? The pressure will be released when? I keep saying this: After starting the IPL, it doesn't matter if you're getting Rs 20 lakh or Rs 20 crore. I'm a player of the team, who wants to contribute to the team's victory. Sometimes there will be very tricky situations where my job will be to play out some overs, and even if I do that and don't score runs, I have worked for my team," Iyer said.Iyer refused to get into the controversy surrounding the nature of the Eden Gardens pitch not being prepared according to the strengths of the home team. "I never believe that the pitch should be like this or that. We are professional cricketers. So obviously we will adjust to it. But yes, if we get what we want in our home, it will be great for us," Iyer said.Iyer clarified that KKR's approach was never about "fearless" cricket, but rather focused on measured and strategic aggression."The basic meaning of aggression is showing a positive intent. It's about showing positive but correct intent. Aggression does not mean tonking every ball for sixes. It's about how you understand the conditions, how you are able to maximise the conditions in your favour. That is what we as a team want to play," he said."We want to be a team who understands the pitch and the conditions quickly and assess what is the par score on that pitch and always try to make 20 runs above-par. That is what aggression for KKR means."