IPL 2025 Mega Auction, Venkatesh Iyer in KKR:
The grand auction for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season is currently taking place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It will continue into the next day (November 25). Amidst the excitement, star opener and all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer has captured everyone's attention. Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan's team, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), made a compelling bid to secure him.
KKR successfully acquired Venkatesh with a powerful bid of INR 23.75 crores. This star player was part of the KKR squad until last season. However, this time around, KKR did not retain him, which necessitated a strenuous effort to re-purchase Venkatesh at the auction.
The Battle for Venkatesh among Teams
KKR faced stiff competition from Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the bidding war. Venkatesh's base price was set at INR 2 crores, and KKR initially placed the first bid. Subsequently, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) joined the fray, but they exited the battle after placing a final bid of 7.50 crores. That's when RCB made their entry.
Ultimately, Kolkata managed to reinstate Venkatesh into their team with a decisive bid of INR 23.75 crores. The burning question remains—why did KKR invest such a significant amount in this player? The answer lies in Venkatesh's stellar past performances.
Venkatesh's Fifty in Two IPL Finals
Kolkata clinched the 2024 IPL title, with Venkatesh delivering an unbeaten 52 off 26 balls in the finals. They triumphed over Sunrisers Hyderabad by 8 wickets, chasing down 114 runs in just 10.3 overs, greatly aided by Venkatesh's innings.
Furthermore, Kolkata played in the 2021 finals, although Chennai Super Kings won by 27 runs. In that match, too, Venkatesh contributed with a 50 off 32 balls. During the 2024 season, he played 14 matches, amassing 370 runs, including four fifties.
During the IPL 2023 season, Venkatesh scored 404 runs over 14 matches, achieving one century and two fifties. The upcoming IPL 2025 will be Venkatesh's fifth season. He had recorded 182 runs in the 2022 season and 370 runs in the 2021 season. Venkatesh's phenomenal performance has undoubtedly worked in his favor.
