I knew I would play for India one day – Venkatesh Iyer after his selection in place of Hardik Pandya

Venkatesh Iyer played an important role in the Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) sensational comeback during the second leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in UAE.

Iyer scored 370 runs in 10 matches and helped the franchise to reach the final, where they lost to Chennai Super Kings.

The 26-year old has been included in the squad for the T20I series against New Zealand starting November 17.

“My workload management has been good so far. I am an all-rounder, so I have to be equally focused 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,” Iyer told PTI in an interview.

“I have always worked hard on my red-ball game and it has been my conscious effort not to 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.

He is being seen as a replacement for Hardik Pandya, who is facing fitness issues.

Iyer has six half-centuries and seven wickets for Madhya Pradesh in Ranji Trophy.

“I must say that it was not just about IPL that gave me the 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.