The IPL 2026 auction, scheduled for December 16 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, promises high drama as teams rebuild squads after the retention deadline on November 15.
Among the spotlight players is Venkatesh Iyer, whose versatility could spark renewed interest among the teams.
Venkatesh Iyer
Venkatesh Iyer, a left-handed batting all-rounder from Madhya Pradesh, spent his entire IPL career with Kolkata Knight Riders before release ahead of the 2026 auction. Previously bought back for a record ₹23.75 crore via Right to Match in the 2025 mega-auction, Iyer struggled in IPL 2025, scoring just 142 runs in 11 matches at an average of 20.28. KKR released him ahead of the auction and the southpaw will be hoping for a new challenge ahead of the new season.
Venkatesh Iyer IPL Stats
Across
62 IPL matches, Iyer has scored 1331 runs in 50 innings at an average of 30.95 and a strike rate of 136.6, including one century (104) and 11 fifties. His boundary count stands at 183 (122 fours, 61 sixes), with strong top-order and middle-order contributions. Bowling medium pace, he has picked up 3 wickets in the IPL till date.
Venkatesh Iyer IPL 2026 Auction Slot
Venkatesh Iyer is the no. 10 player in the IPL 2026 auction list. The India all-rounder belongs to Set Number 2, in the All-Rounder 1 category.
What is the Base Price of Venkatesh Iyer?
Venkatesh Iyer has a base price of Rs 2 crore in the IPL mini auction. He is among the 45 players with Rs 2 crore base price.
IPL 2026 Auction: When will Venkatesh Iyer arrive at Auction Table?
The IPL mini auction starts at 2:30 PM IST on Tuesday. As Iyer is in Set No. 2, the Indian all-rounder is expected to have his name called up around 4:30 to 5 PM on the day, which will depend on the first set and his random pick serial in his own set.
Disclaimer: The timeline of a player's arrival at the auction table is based on assumptions related to IPL auction and the player's position in the shortlist. The aforementioned time can change as per auction dynamics.
