India’s decorated spinner Anil Kumble believes that the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders need to move their record-breaking signing, Venkatesh Iyer, up in the batting order after his elongated dry spell with the bat continues in the 18th edition of the cash-rich league. With seven points from nine fixtures, the Knight Riders stand on the verge of seeing their title defence end in the group stage. Kolkata have been tweaking their squad in a bid to find the winning momentum as the group phase heads towards its business end.
Former India cricketer turned commentator Anil Kumble has suggested changing Venkatesh Iyer‘s batting position to bring a change in his form in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025). Going strictly by form, the one point Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) got from their washout against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Saturday night might count as a bonus for the defending champions, who have struggled to stitch together a decent run of results in IPL 2025.
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) acquired the services of Madhya Pradesh all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer for Rs 23.75 crore in the IPL 2025 Auction here at the Abadi Al Johar Arena in Jeddah on Sunday. Venkatesh Iyer stunned many after being roped in for a massive price of Rs 23.75 crore by Kolkata Knight Riders at the IPL 2025 mega auction on Sunday, November 24. Venkatesh Iyer entered the auction at a base price of Rs 2 crore and saw a massive bidding war for him by three teams.
Venkatesh Iyer, the star Madhya Pradesh all-rounder attracted major interest from Lucknow Super Giants, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders. The IPL 2024 champions KKR managed to secure the deal after they made the winning bid of Rs 23.75 crore.
Venkatesh Iyer’s rise to ranks in IPL Auction.
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) acquired the services of Madhya Pradesh all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer for Rs 23.75 crore in the IPL 2025 Auction here at the Abadi Al Johar Arena in Jeddah on Sunday. With a base price of Rs. 2 crore, Venkatesh Iyer was expected to fetch a good price, but no one could have predicted the astronomical heights his auction would reach.
KKR, who didn’t have the option of Right to Match heading into this auction (as they had already retained six players), were the first ones to raise the paddle for the MP all-rounder. LSG joined the bid quickly but moved out when the bid reached Rs 7.75 crore. RCB entered next and had a bidding war with KKR for Iyer
KKR, the team he helped lead to glory in the previous season, opened the bidding. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) quickly joined in, trying to snatch Venkatesh Iyer from KKR. The bidding escalated steadily, with LSG pushing the price to Rs 6 crore. However, they bowed out as KKR raised their bid to Rs 7.75 crore.
Paddles were raised rapidly as the two franchises showed no signs of backing down. The bid crossed Rs 18 crore, then Rs 19 crore, with KKR momentarily in the lead at Rs 19.25 crore. KKR raised the bid to Rs 20.75 crore, but RCB still wasn’t done. The battle continued until the bid hit an astonishing Rs 23.75 crore as KKR claimed the services of their former all-rounder.
Venkatesh Iyer’s performance in IPL and for KKR
Venkatesh Iyer had debuted for KKR in 2021 and immediately made an impact with a prolific season, scoring 370 runs in just 10 matches at an average of 41.11. His exploits with the bat and ball earned him a spot in the Indian national team in both T20Is and ODIs. Over his IPL career, Iyer amassed 1,326 runs in 50 matches at an average of 31.57, with one century and 11 half-centuries with highest score of 104.
Bought in 2021, Venkatesh Iyer has played 51 matches in the IPL, all of them for KKR, scoring 1326 uns, including a hundred. He became the first Indian batter to hit a hundred for KKR in 2023 season.
In IPL 2024, Venkatesh Iyer’s value as a match-winner was undeniable. His T20 batting strike rate of 137.64 and his tight bowling economy under seven underscored his all-around capabilities. The Madhya Pradesh all-rounder had also hit 121 fours and 61 sixes in his IPL career, solidifying his reputation as a power-hitter.
Venkatesh Iyer played a key role in KKR’s title-winning run in 2024, hitting 370 runs at a staggering strike rate of 158. The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vice-captain hasn’t had a memorable time with the bat in the ongoing season with 135 runs to his name from six innings at an average of 22.50 and a strike rate of 139.17.
The southpaw has failed to justify his price after being bought for Rs 23.75 crore by KKR in the mega auction, having scored just one fifty this season. Following KKR’s washed-out game against Punjab Kings (PBKS), Kumble suggested that bringing Venkatesh Iyer up the order could help him play his natural game as he likes to have pace on the ball.
Anil Kumble suggests in change in Venkatesh Iyer’s batting position to bring luck to KKR’S fortunes in IPL 2025
Anil Kumble feels it is time for KKR to consider promoting its misfiring vice-captain, Venkatesh Iyer , up the batting order, who has remained static in the middle order so far. Venkatesh’s struggles reflect in the shift in his batting position from the top order in IPL 2024 to number four or five in the current edition.
In the last chapter of the cash-rich league, Venkatesh thrived with a powerplay strike rate of 220. However, in his new batting position, the southpaw has mustered up 135 runs at an average of 22.50 and a strike rate of 139.17. Venkatesh’s 60 (29) against Sunrisers Hyderabad has been his only substantial performance.
“They had an opportunity in this game to move Venky right up the order [in this game].
Open the batting with Sunil Narine and then bring in an Indian wicketkeeper. Anyway, they were looking to drop Ramandeep – okay, fine, get [Luvnith] Sisodia in, he’s not a bad player, he can keep wicket. And bring [Anrich] Nortje because Nortje can play instead of Chetan Sakariya,” Kumble said on ESPNCricinfo’s Time Out show.
“[Venkatesh] needs that pace on the ball. You have six overs, the powerplay, it’s where he can play his natural game, hit over the top. He’s done it in the past, that’s how he got KKR back into the playoffs when they were down and out in Dubai,” he added.
Venkatesh Iyer has batted in the middle or lower order this season and has managed to cross the 40-run mark just twice. The 30-year-old was prolific with the bat for KKR in his breakthrough season in 2021, where he accumulated 370 runs from 11 innings at an average of 41.11 and registered four half-centuries. With five matches remaining in the season and a slight chance of playoffs qualification still alive, KKR management have the chance to give Venkatesh a run higher up the order to see if it brings any changes to their fortunes.
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