Venkatesh Iyer became the third most expensive player in IPL 2025 Auction as KKR bought him for a massive sum of INR 23.75 crore.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer has hinted at the possibility of leading the two-time IPL champions in the upcoming season. The statement came shortly after KKR secured his services for a jaw-dropping INR 23.75 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction in Jeddah on Sunday.
The auction saw KKR part ways with their IPL-winning captain Shreyas Iyer, who was not retained ahead of the event. The Shah Rukh Khan-owned franchise went all out in a fierce bidding war against Royal Challengers Bengaluru to acquire Venkatesh. Despite receiving criticism from fans and cricketing experts for the decision, KKR placed a clear bet on the all-rounder’s potential to play a central role in their future plans.
While KKR briefly pursued the idea of bringing Shreyas back into the fold, they bowed out of the bidding at INR 9.75 crore in a competitive race involving Lucknow Super Giants and Punjab Kings. Eventually, Punjab secured Shreyas for a staggering INR 26.75 crore, making him the second-most expensive player in IPL history.
Speaking after the auction, Venkatesh expressed his gratitude towards KKR and did not shy away from addressing the captaincy speculation. The 29-year-old revealed his readiness to take on the leadership role, pointing to his experience as vice-captain during the 2023 season and his brief stint as captain when Nitish Rana was injured.
“I had the opportunity to captain the side in Nitish Rana’s absence when he was unfortunately injured, and I was the vice-captain as well,” Venkatesh shared. “I’ve always believed that captaincy is just a tag, but leadership is about creating an environment where everyone feels they can play for this team and contribute. If given the responsibility, I would be more than happy to take it on. Absolutely, I’m ready for it.”
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He added that his focus would be on building a cohesive and motivated team environment.
“Together, we will aim to defend the championship and continue our winning campaign. Thank you very much for picking me in your squad,” Venkatesh said.
Venkatesh became the third-most expensive player at the IPL 2025 auction, following Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant, who went to Lucknow Super Giants for INR 27 crore. His INR 23.75 crore price tag also made him the fourth-most expensive player in IPL history, a testament to the faith KKR has in his abilities.
The all-rounder, who has represented India in nine T20Is and two ODIs, expressed his excitement about rejoining KKR.
“Thank you, KKR, for trusting me and showing so much belief in me. I’m extremely delighted to be part of Kolkata Knight Riders again. To be honest, I’m at a loss for words, but I’m elated to be part of the KKR team once again,” Venkatesh said.
Venkatesh also highlighted his connection with KKR coach Chandrakant Pandit, who was also his coach during his Madhya Pradesh stint.
“The KKR coach was also my coach in Madhya Pradesh. We were discussing how I felt nervous about coming back to KKR. But again, it’s a message of the franchise’s focus on winning championships and player development and how much they value their players. I’m thrilled to play for KKR again and happy they’ve shown so much confidence in me.”
Rest of the KKR Squad
In addition to Venkatesh, KKR had a busy day at the auction table, securing a total of seven players for INR 49.25 crore. Their roster now includes South African pacer Anrich Nortje (INR 6.50 crore), wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock (INR 3.60 crore), young batter Angrish Raghuvanshi (INR 3 crore), Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz (INR 2 crore), and domestic players Vaibhav Arora (INR 1.80 crore) and Mayank Markande (INR 30 lakh).
While the franchise has received mixed reactions for their auction strategy, the acquisitions reflect a clear intent to rejuvenate the squad with as many core players as possible from their championship-winning team last season.
As the IPL 2025 season approaches, all eyes will be on KKR to see how their big-money investment in Venkatesh Iyer pans out. With the all-rounder hinting at a potential captaincy role, the franchise’s bold moves could either redefine their legacy or invite further scrutiny. Regardless, KKR’s decision to put their faith in Venkatesh marks the beginning of an intriguing chapter in their IPL journey.
