Venkatesh Iyer Returns To KKR For INR 23.75 Crore At IPL 2025 Mega Auction

In a remarkable turn of events at the IPL 2025 mega auction in Jeddah, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have brought back their former player Venkatesh Iyer for an astounding INR 23.75 crore. This acquisition makes him the third-most expensive purchase of the day and the priciest all-rounder in IPL history.

Iyer's return to KKR is notable, especially after being released before the 2025 season despite his consistent performances over the past two years. His base price was set at INR 2 crore, sparking a bidding war. Lucknow Super Giants started the bidding, but it quickly became a battle between KKR and Royal Challengers Bangalore. When the price surpassed INR 23.5 crore, RCB withdrew, allowing Kolkata to secure Iyer.

Venkatesh Iyer's journey in the IPL has been impressive. He began with KKR in 2021 on a modest INR 20 lakh contract. By 2022, he was retained for INR 8 crore, and now his deal worth INR 23.75 crore marks a significant increase in his IPL earnings.

Iyer made his debut with KKR in 2021 at age 29, playing ten matches and scoring over 350 runs as Kolkata finished as runners-up to Chennai Super Kings. Over four seasons and 51 matches, he has accumulated 1326 runs at a strike rate of 137.13 and taken three wickets.

In the IPL 2023 season, Iyer became only the second KKR player after Brendon McCullum to score an IPL century in fifteen years. That year, he amassed 404 runs including a century and two half-centuries. In 2024, he scored another impressive tally of 370 runs with four fifties, aiding KKR in winning their first title in ten years.

Iyer played a crucial role in KKR's victory against SunRisers Hyderabad during the IPL 2024 final held in Chennai earlier this year by scoring an unbeaten 52 runs while chasing down a target of just 114.