Venkatesh Iyer returns to the IPL 2026 mini-auction with a base price of Rs 2 crore. Abhishek Nayar shares how Iyer’s attitude, not just his performance, stood out during trials.
/********* virified logo ********/
.verified-article img {display:inline-block;margin-right:5px;}
@media screen and (max-width:766px){.common-all-content .verified-article img {width:25px!important;}}
span.verified-article {background: #3aa84f1f;border-radius: 15px; padding-right: 10px;color: #3aa84f;display: inline-block;margin-bottom: 10px;}
/********* virified logo ********/
New Delhi: Star India all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer is back in the IPL 2026 mini-auction with a base price of Rs 2 crore after being released by KKR. On The Great Indian Cricket Show, Abhishek Nayar revealed that it was Iyer’s attitude, more than his stats, that impressed him during the trials.
Nayar recalled his experience with Venkatesh Iyer during the trials
Nayar recalled his experience during the trials said, “I actually picked him because of his attitude. On day one, Venkatesh Iyer walked in with swagger; he performed, but he never looked at us or tried to please anyone. I thought he was someone with a lot of attitude”
“On day two, we gave him a game. In the final over, when our bowler cramped, Venky shouted from the boundary, ‘I will bowl the last over.’ He bowled and conceded 18 runs, but what I loved was his willingness to face adversity.” Nayar further said
“The trial mattered less to him than proving to himself that he was doing the right thing. That conviction stayed with me.”
Venkatesh was released by KKR after a five-years stint
Venkatesh Iyer made his IPL debut in 2021 for Kolkata Knight Riders after being bought for Rs 20 lakh. He later received a pay hike when retained for Rs 8 crore in 2022, and in 2025, he was acquired by KKR for Rs 23.75 crore.
Iyer was one of the key players for KKR, as he scored 1,468 runs in 62 matches at an average of 29.96 and a strike rate of 137.32, which included a century and 12 half-centuries. His highest score of 104 came against Mumbai Indians in IPL 2023.
/*******authors starts******/
.author-profile-row{margin:15px 0 30px;width:100%; display: block; position: relative;}
.author-profile-row a.linkBox{background: #F3F3F3;border: 1px solid #F26822;border-radius: 10px;padding:15px;width:100%; display: block;}
.author-profile-row h2{font-size:16px; color:#F26822; font-weight:700; padding:0 0 15px; margin: 0;}
.author-profile-row .repeat-box a{width:100%; display: block;}
.author-profile-row .repeat-box figure{gap:10px; width:100%;}
.author-profile-row .repeat-box .photo{width: auto; flex:0 0 53px}
.author-profile-row .repeat-box .photo .lazy-image{ padding-top:53px; border-radius:500px;}
.author-profile-row .repeat-box .photo .lazy-image img{border-radius:500px;object-fit:cover;}
.author-profile-row .repeat-box .text{flex:1;width: auto;padding: 0;}
.author-profile-row .repeat-box .text h3{font-size:16px; font-weight:700; color:var(–black);}
.author-profile-row .repeat-box .text p{font-size:14px; line-height:1.7; color:var(–black); margin-top:8px;}
.author-profile-row a.linkBox:hover{border-color:#0784d3;}
.author-profile-row ul.social-icon{position: absolute; right:15px; top:15px; margin: 0!important; padding:0; gap:0 5px; z-index:5;}
.author-profile-row ul.social-icon li{width:25px;height:25px; border-radius:100px;}
.author-profile-row ul.social-icon li a,
.author-profile-row ul.social-icon li img{display:inline-block;width:25px;height:25px}
/*******authors ends******/
.common-all-content .table-responsive{max-height: inherit;margin-bottom: 15px;}
.common-all-content .table-responsive table tr:first-of-type,
.common-all-content table tr:first-of-type td,
.common-all-content table tr:first-of-type th {background-color:#195bca;color:var(–white)!important}
Also Read:
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: india.com
