Venkatesh Iyer’s Challenging IPL Season
Venkatesh Iyer faced a tough season with the Kolkata Knight Riders. It ended on a low note when he was dropped from the final match of the Indian Premier League on May 25, Sunday.
A Silver Lining
This turned out to be a silver lining. The defending champions lost heavily to Sunrisers Hyderabad by 110 runs. However, not playing in the final game must have been tough for Iyer.
After this significant loss, KKR dropped to eighth place in the standings. They finished IPL 2025 on a disappointing note.
Message for Fans
On May 27, Iyer shared a heartfelt message for KKR fans on social media. He posted a carousel of his images from IPL 2025 with the caption, “Hard season. Big hearts. Lessons we’ll carry forever.”
Previous Exclusions
This wasn’t the first time Iyer was left out. He was also excluded from the crucial match against Chennai Super Kings on May 7 at Eden Gardens.
Iyer’s Struggles
Iyer had a difficult season in IPL 2025. KKR had signed him for a substantial amount of Rs. 23.75 crore at the start of the season.
- He played 11 matches for KKR.
- He scored only 142 runs.
- His average was 20.29.
- His strike rate was 139.22.
Is Iyer on His Way Out?
KKR decided to drop Iyer for the final match after his underwhelming season. Commentator Aakash Chopra believes this might indicate that KKR is planning to release Iyer.
Chopra shared his thoughts on his YouTube channel. He said, “The big news for me from this match was that they didn’t play Venkatesh Iyer. He was on the impact substitute’s list, but he didn’t get to bat. They chose Manish Pandey and Angkrish Raghuvanshi to bat instead. They played Ramandeep Singh and Rinku Singh but left Venky out.
Chopra added, “Is this a sign that Venky will be released next year? They might release him for ₹23 crore and then buy him back at a lower price. That is possible, and I think we have an idea of what might happen next year.”
Release and Re-Sign?
Franchises usually don’t make big moves this early before the next season. With one more week left in IPL 2025, the signs are not promising for Iyer.
Quinton de Kock from South Africa and Sunil Narine from the West Indies have secured their spots as openers for KKR. The team will need to free up some money for the mini auction before IPL 2026.
This could mean that KKR might release Iyer in the mini auction and buy him back at a cheaper price, as Chopra suggested.
Stay updated on all the action from the IPL 2025. Check the IPL 2025 Schedule, track the latest IPL 2025 Points Table, and follow the top performers with the Orange Cap and Purple Cap.
