"It Makes Me Teary-Eyed": Venkatesh Iyer Gets Emotional After KKR Exit
Iyer has been a pivotal player for KKR, leading them to the IPL final in 2021 and sealing victory in 2024 by hitting the winning runs. Reflecting on KKR’s strategy, he admitted that the franchise made solid retention choices, covering key batting and bowling slots effectively.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) star Venkatesh Iyer expressed deep emotion upon learning he would not be retained by the franchise ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. Iyer, who has played a crucial role for KKR over four seasons, reflected on his journey with the team and shared how close the franchise feels to him. Despite KKR’s choice to keep six key players, including those who cover both batting and bowling strengths, the franchise decided to let go of prominent players like Venkatesh, Mitchell Starc, and Nitish Rana.
In an emotional conversation with RevSportz, Iyer spoke about the KKR team’s family-like environment. "It’s a complete family at KKR, including the management, staff, and all the behind-the-scenes heroes. It makes me a little teary-eyed that my name isn’t on the retention list," he shared. Iyer reminisced about his early days with the franchise, hoping KKR might bid for him in the upcoming auction: "I would sit like an excited kid to see if KKR put up the paddle for me. If they do, it will mean the world."
Iyer has been a pivotal player for KKR, leading them to the IPL final in 2021 and sealing victory in 2024 by hitting the winning runs. Reflecting on KKR’s strategy, he admitted that the franchise made solid retention choices, covering key batting and bowling slots effectively. "KKR has had a very good retention. They have covered 14-16 overs with the ball and five positions with the bat," he acknowledged, yet he couldn’t hide his disappointment, saying, "I would’ve loved to be on the retention list."
With a stellar second half of the IPL 2024 season, where he hit four half-centuries and scored 370 runs at a 158.80 strike rate, Iyer proved his value to the team. Despite the setback, he remains hopeful, leaving the door open for a return to the team he holds dear. "The doors are open, and if I have a good auction, I may still end up playing for the team I love the most," he added, looking forward to what lies ahead in his IPL journey.
