Watch: Venkatesh Iyer Creates History, Becomes First Player After Brendon McCullum To Score Century For KKR

In the IPL 2023 match against Mumbai Indians, Venkatesh Iyer made history for Kolkata Knight Riders by becoming only the second player from KKR to score a century in the league. His achievement comes 15 years after Brendon McCullum's unforgettable 158-run knock in the very first IPL game in 2008 against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Iyer reached the milestone in just 53 deliveries, hitting the MI bowlers to all corners of the park. Despite being struck on the leg, he persisted and continued his onslaught.

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Venkatesh Iyer is putting on a clinic at the Wankhede __ in #MIvKKR _#TATAIPL #IPLonJioCinema #IPL2023 | @venkateshiyer pic.twitter.com/D2KW2Pl7g1

— JioCinema (@JioCinema) April 16, 2023

In the absence of Rohit Sharma, Surya Kumar Yadav stepped up to take the MI's charge. He gave the ball to the young MI debutant Arjun Tendulkar, who bowled an impactful over to kick off the game.

MI found an early breakthrough as Cameron Green picked up his first wicket of the match as Hrithik Shokeen took a diving catch to dismiss N Jagadeesan for a four-ball duck in the second over.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz soon followed the footsteps of his opening partner in the final over of the powerplay. Gurbaz's struggle was clearly evident in the initial overs but he tried to reignite his innings by attempting to score boundaries in Piyush Chawala's over. However, his shot ended straight in the hands of Duan Janssen. Nitish Rana and Venkatesh Iyer tried to bring back KKR innings on track after an initial slow start.

Venkatesh stepped on the pitch and started to score runs at regular intervals. On the other end, before Nitish Rana could settle on the pitch he lost his wicket to Hrithik Shokeen. A heated exchange was witnessed between the KKR skipper and Shokeen as Nitish seemed unhappy about something Shokeen had said to him as he walked back to the pavilion.

MI players came quickly to cool down the matter and avoid any sort of delay in the game. While other wickets kept falling on a consistent basis Venkatesh went on to play according to his own will.

At the end of 10 overs, KKR had a score of 104/3. After Shardul Thakur was dismissed by Shokeen in the 13th over for a score of 13(11), the in-form batter Rinku Singh stepped in and held on to the other end as Venkatesh went on a rampage. Iyer lost his wicket in the 18th over to Riley Meredith. He scored 104 runs which included six fours and nine sixes. Andre Russell came forward to play a short cameo as Rinku failed to live up to his status in the final over. Russell scored 18 (18) which included two boundaries. Russell played an unbeaten knock of 21(11)* to take KKR's tally to 185/6 in 20 overs.

Brief scores: Kolkata Knight Riders 185/6 (Venkatesh Iyer 104(52), Andre Russell 21(11)* and Hrithik Shokeen 2/34) vs Mumbai Indians. (ANI)