Kolkata Knight Riders head coach Abhishek Nayar has revealed the reason behind their acquisition of Venkatesh Iyer some five years ago.
Although KKR have released Iyer before the IPL 2026 auction, there's a big chance that the Knight Riders will bring him back at the helm, albeit at a lower price.
Venkatesh Iyer debuted for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2021, bought for a base price of INR 20 lakh after starring in domestic tournaments for Madhya Pradesh. His breakout season saw him score 370 runs in 10 matches at an average of 41.11 and strike rate of 128.47, including four fifties, helping KKR reach the final from a shaky start. He earned a national team call-up, cementing his role as a top-order batter and part-time medium-pacer.
Retained
via Right to Match for a record INR 23.75 crore ahead of IPL 2025, Iyer served as deputy to captain Ajinkya Rahane, voicing readiness to lead despite no prior experience. The season disappointed with just 142 runs in 11 matches and scant bowling, leading to his release before the 2026 auction-part of a strategic squad overhaul after a "tough" year, as per CEO Venky Mysore.
But it was a young Venkatesh some five years ago, who caught the eye of current head coach Abhishek Nayar. Then, an assistant coach, Nayar spotted the steel and talent of the Madhya Pradesh player, which prompted the Knight Riders to acquire his services.
Speaking at The Great Indian Cricket Show, Nayar said, "I actually picked him because of his attitude. On day one, Venkatesh Iyer walked in with swagger; he performed, but he never looked at us or tried to please anyone. I thought he was someone with a lot of attitude. "
"On day two, we gave him a game. In the final over, when our bowler cramped, Venky shouted from the boundary, "I will bowl the last over. " He bowled and conceded 18 runs, but what I loved was his willingness to face adversity. The trial mattered less to him than proving to himself that he was doing the right thing. That conviction stayed with me," he added.
