Venkatesh Iyer has revealed a vital advice he recieved from former Indian skipper MS Dhoni provided. The all-rounder revealed that Dhoni advised him to stay grounded and not let fame get to him.

Venkatesh also revealed the advice from Chandrakant Pandit that has stuck with him till now. Pandit had suggested him to not lose track of the fundamental concepts of 'physical fitness and discipline' while progressing through his career.

While the 30-year-old remains open to play and give his best for any Indian Premier League franchise, he admitted that he has deep love for Kolkata Knight Riders due to several reasons. Venkatesh has played for KKR for five seasons now.

Q) You might have received a lot of advice from players like MS Dhoni. What’s the best piece of advice you have received from him, and how has it impacted your career?

I think the first time I met MS, he spoke to me about a lot of things that will come to you now because you have done well in 2-3 games. A lot of blitz will come to you. So many people will want to talk to you. You will get a lot of attention, a lot of social media buzz, everything like that. It is very important to decipher that and your game. Sometimes, that takes over the game. So, that advice was very important for me. He told me to keep my eyes, ears and mind open. The more you learn, the more you will be able to enjoy the game and learn from it as well.

Q) You have played under multiple coaches and mentors — what’s the one piece of advice that still drives your game today?

When you play under a lot of coaches, everyone brings a different set of coaching theories. Someone prepares you for all situations. Someone gives you the backing that you need. Someone gives you a wall or a shield that you need to prevent any outside criticism. Different coaches have different coaching theories. I have been working closely with Chandrakant Pandit sir. He feels the two pillars of success are physical fitness and discipline. It is very important not just for cricket but for life as well. He is of the belief that what gave you success should be continued. Just because you reach a certain level does not mean you change your ways. You should always stick to your basics. You should always stick to what has given you success, because that will take you forward.

Q) Ahead of the mini-auction, if not KKR, for which IPL team would you like to play in IPL 2026 and why?

For players like us, it's the opportunity to play in the IPL. It doesn't matter which team I play for. I will put my best foot forward. If I have to ask my heart, I would still want to play for KKR. I won one championship with KKR. I want to continue the legacy. I want to bring more glory to KKR. Because they have shown so much faith in me. If not KKR, then anywhere else. Everyone knows that wherever I go, I will look to give my best. Not just in terms of my batting or bowling, but also, I can contribute in terms of leadership and suggestions to the captain.

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