IPL 2023: Venkatesh Iyer becomes first KKR player to score IPL 100 after Brendon McCullum

Kolkata Knight Riders batter Venkatesh Iyer scored a fantastic century against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday (April 16).

Venkatesh Iyer scored his century in just 49 balls and the southpaw was excellent with the willow. He had a bruise on his knee after a ball struck just over his knee-roll but kept on batting in impeccable fashion to rack up a milestone century for himself and his team.

Iyer, who made his debut for KKR in 2021, has been a pivotal player for them in the last couple of years. Iyer didn't have the best of times last season but he has been outstanding so far this year.

Venkatesh Iyer 1st KKR player to score an IPL century after Brendon McCullum

As Iyer scored his maiden IPL century, he also became the second KKR batter to score a hundred in the tournament.

And astonishingly, KKR's 2nd century comes in the IPL fifteen years after the first one. Brendon McCullum's riveting inning of 158 in the very first match of IPL in the 2008 season kickstarted the tournament in the grandest of manners.

But since then, no KKR batters reached the three-figure mark. And the long wait for the elusive century has finally ended. Iyer hit 5 fours and 9 monumental sixes to reach his century and was a glue to the KKR innings.

💯 for @venkateshiyer! 👏 👏

This has been a stunning knock ⚡️ ⚡️

He has overcome an injury to notch up his maiden IPL TON! 💪 💪

Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/CcXVDhfzmi #TATAIPL | #MIvKKR | @KKRiders pic.twitter.com/BiNC0gDDbJ
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 16, 2023

He departed for 104 runs off just 51 balls and now has tipped Shikhar Dhawan to reach the summit of the IPL 2023 Orange Cap list. He was later awarded the player of the match for his ton despite the team ending up on the losing side.