Throughout IPL 2025, Venkatesh Iyer found himself in the spotlight for reasons beyond cricket. His ₹23.75 crore auction price became one of the most debated topics of the season. When Kolkata Knight Riders secured his services in the mega auction, many questioned the massive investment. It was the third-highest bid in IPL history, only behind Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer this year.
The buzz intensified as KKR, despite being defending champions, chose not to retain Shreyas Iyer and stopped bidding for him at ₹10 crore. Speculation grew over whether Venkatesh was a captaincy choice. The chatter on social media and constant outside noise soon became difficult to ignore for the left-handed all-rounder.
Slow Start and the Toll of Criticism
Venkatesh, who burst onto the scene in the second half of IPL 2021, endured a disappointing season. He scored just 142 runs in 11 matches at a strike rate of 139, with only one notable knock — a match-winning 60. The introduction of the Impact Player rule also meant his bowling was seldom used.
“People who had these questions are not even on my contact list. So why do I have to even think about what they are thinking?” Venkatesh told Sportskeeda.
Despite the poor returns, he said the KKR management, including CEO Venky Mysore, never wavered in their trust.
“It’s not about just the money, it’s about where I fit in their scheme of things. Venky sir once told me something, which I felt made a lot of sense. He said, “At the end of the day, you are given 120 units to build a team. Once the team is built, it doesn’t matter how many units you have spent on what. It is a team that has been made now, that’s it.”
Staying Grounded and Focusing on the Future
For Venkatesh, the value attached to his name does not define his career. “It’s my life, my game, my career. And it’s my team that has chosen to spend so much on me. So these things don’t phase me. See, for a boy who wanted to just play IPL cricket, even ₹20 lakh would sometimes feel like a significant amount. And over the years, this is what I’ve learnt. Not just me, but all the cricketers have learnt this: there are a lot of eyes on you, but it’s important to know what to pay heed to. People who have had a direct impact on my life, I am answerable to only them,” he said.
He admitted there were hurdles that affected his performance but sees the season as a stepping stone. “Yeah, I have taken the learnings, taken the positives, and whatever mistakes happened. But yeah, there were a lot of things that have come up that I feel hindered my performance. But all in all, good one or bad one, winning the trophy or not winning it, scoring 600-700 runs, that and all is different. It was a season full of learnings, and that is what is constant.”
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