IPL 2022: If you want wickets, give the ball to Umesh Yadav: Shreyas Iyer

Mumbai: Kolkata Knight Riders Captain Shreyas Iyer lauded Umesh Yadav by saying that the Indian pacer is the right choice to fetch wickets at crucial stages of a match.

"Right from the powerplay when our bowlers conceded just 36 runs and took a wicket, it was just the start we needed. We have been talking about Umesh right from the start. He has increased his pace, bowls those hard lengths and as a captain you just have to give him the ball to deliver," he said at the post-match ceremony here.

Umesh, along with Sunil Narine, bowled exceptionally well. The Indian pacer struck early by removing Devdutt Padikkal. "Whenever I give Sunil Narine the ball, he gets me wickets, but the batsmen don't take chances against him. He is very economical, but when he gets a wicket, he gets a big one," he said.

On Rinku Singh's match-winning unbeaten 42 runs, Iyer said he is a great asset for the future. "The way Rinku is maintaining his calm, playing only his second or third game, is outstanding. He is a great asset for the franchise for the future. The way he gets his starts, he doesn't look like a newcomer," he said.

"We are looking for a good start. I love pressure, but it sweats a lot on me to build the innings in every game," he added.

Before the start of the game, Iyer had told Shivam Mavi, Rinku and Anukul Roy to take tough positions in the field, Iyer said. "Mavi's catch of Buttler was superb," he said. (UNI)