Sun Nov 24 16:28:26 UTC 2024: ## KKR Splurges Rs 23.75 Crore to Retain Venkatesh Iyer in IPL 2025 Auction
**Mumbai, India** – Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) secured the services of all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer for a staggering Rs 23.75 crore in a thrilling bidding war at the IPL 2025 auction. The price tag makes Iyer the third most expensive player in this year’s auction, behind only Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer.
The bidding for Iyer, who debuted with KKR in 2021, began with KKR themselves. However, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) quickly entered the fray, pushing the price well past Rs 20 crore. Ultimately, RCB bowed out, leaving KKR to secure the prized all-rounder.
Iyer, who has scored 1326 runs in 50 matches for KKR, including one century and eleven fifties, expressed his delight at returning to the franchise he considers his “family.” He previously stated his desire to return to KKR even if he wasn’t on their retention list. In IPL 2024, he amassed 370 runs at an impressive average of 46.25.
This acquisition marks KKR’s first purchase of the auction, adding to their already retained players: Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Ramandeep Singh, and Varun Chakaravarthy. The team’s significant investment in Iyer underscores his value and importance to their strategy for the upcoming season.
First Piper 