Venkatesh Iyer, the Madhya Pradesh all-rounder, proved to be a crucial addition for the Kolkata Knight Riders’ turnaround in 2021. Joining the squad during the UAE leg of IPL 2021, he marked his debut with a half-century against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Displaying both confidence and aggression, Iyer went on to score four fifties in his ten matches. He finished the season with an impressive 370 runs at an average of 41.11 and a strike rate of 128.47, playing a key role in Kolkata Knight Riders’ qualification for the finals, which they eventually lost. His performances even earned him a call-up to the Indian team later that year, making his debut against New Zealand.
Retained by Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of the 2022 mega-auction (third player retained), Iyer’s form dipped, managing only 182 runs with a single half-century in 12 matches. However, 2023 saw him score his maiden IPL century against Mumbai Indians, becoming only the second Kolkata Knight Riders batter after Brendon McCullum in 2008 to achieve this feat. Having secured his place in the team, the management will undoubtedly expect match-winning contributions from him with both bat and ball.
Full Name
Venkatesh Rajasekran Iyer
Date of Birth
25 December, 1994
Nationality, Hometown
Indian, Indore
Debut Year in IPL
2021
Teams Played
Kolkata Knight Riders
Current Team
Kolkata Knight Riders
Batting Style
Left-handed
Bowling Style
Right Arm medium
Venkatesh Iyer IPL Salary
Venkatesh Iyer joined Kolkata Knight Riders for INR 20 lakh after he joined the team in the 2nd phase of the tournament. With his notable performances, he became a valuable asset to the team. Kolkata Knight Riders retained him ahead of the 2022 IPL Mega Auction for INR 8.00 crore. Venkatesh Iyers’ skills and talent insisted team management retain him despite his poor performance in the 2022 IPL Season. Kolkata Knight Riders retained Venkatesh Iyer for the same IPL salary in the 2023 and 2024 IPL seasons.
