Venkatesh Iyer said he hopes to continue playing for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the future Indian Premier League (IPL) season. KKR spent a massive Rs 23.75 crore on him in the 2025 auction, a move that raised eyebrows, but released him ahead of the 2026 season.
Iyer was among the players released by KKRa list that also included Andre Russell (Rs 12 crore), Quinton de Kock (Rs 3.6 crore), Moeen Ali (Rs 2 crore), Anrich Nortje (Rs 6.5 crore), Spencer Johnson (R 2.8 crore) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (R 2.8 crore). He thanked the franchise for their trust in him and expressed his desire to return to the team.
“For players like us, this is an opportunity to play in IPL. It doesn’t matter which team I play for. I will do my best. If I ask my heart, I still want to play for KKR. I won one championship with KKR. I want to continue the legacy. I want to bring more glory to KKR. Because they have shown so much faith in me,” Iyer told Cric.
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Iyer said that if not for the Knight Riders, he could have represented any of the other nine teams in the competition. He also added that he is ready to contribute not only with his batting and bowling but also with his leadership qualities.
“If not KKR, then anywhere else. Everyone knows that wherever I go, I will try to give my best. Not just in terms of batting or bowling, but I can also contribute in terms of leadership and suggestions for the captain,” Iyer added.
Iyer played 62 IPL matches, scoring 1,468 runs at an average of 29.96 and a strike rate of 137.32. He scored 12 fifties and one century, with a top score of 104 against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium. With the ball, Iyer took three wickets, conceding 143 runs at a bowling average of 47.67 and an economy rate of 10.59 per over.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
November 19, 2025
