The IPL 2025 Mega Auction brought with it numerous headline-grabbing moments, but few were as emotionally resonant as the homecoming of all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
The India player, who played a pivotal role in KKR’s IPL success, expressed his excitement and gratitude after being re-signed by the franchise for a staggering ₹23.75 crore.
The move was not just about the money, but a larger testament to loyalty and the franchise’s commitment to its players. And Venkatesh Iyer was elated and beamed with a smile as he has now re-signed with the Knight Riders.
“Yeah, that’s the important part,” said Venkatesh Iyer, speaking after the auction on JioCinema.
“I’ve gone back to KKR-the management that I’ve known, the ground where I’ve played so many games. That’s the most important thing. The money part? Let’s not talk about it.”
Iyer’s return to KKR is a reflection of the franchise’s deep-rooted loyalty toward its players. The Knight Riders management, known for backing their core group, demonstrated immense faith in Iyer, who was instrumental in their journey to becoming IPL runners-up in 2021 and eventual champions in 2022.
“As Robby bhai (Robin Uthappa) said, this is a message. Winning championships is extremely important for us, but so is player development and backing the players. When a management does that, it shows how much it values its players,” he added.
Interestingly, the move to KKR was not a surprise for Iyer. With KKR’s current coach Chandrakant Pandit also doubling as the Madhya Pradesh coach, discussions about a potential return had been ongoing for some time.
“I was kind of on his nerve to take me back to KKR,” Iyer said with a laugh. “But again, this move shows the confidence and trust KKR has in me as a player. It’s a pleasure to be playing for them once again.”
