And former India wicketkeeper Saba Karim believes that the franchise could get the Indian all-rounder for a much lower price this time at the IPL Auction 2026 on December 16 in Abu Dhabi. Last year, KKR shocked everyone by spending a massive ₹23.75 crore on Venkatesh Iyer at the mega auction.
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Karim believes this could be part of the new KKR head coach Abhishek Nayar’s predictable strategy. The former cricketer explained that Nayar is known for resetting his team structure before building a fresh combination. Karim feels that releasing Venkatesh not only cleared a huge chunk of the purse but also opened the door for a possible re-entry at a bargain rate.
Strong possibility that KKR may buy Venkatesh Iyer back: Saba Karim
The commentator further noted, “He only keeps players he feels are part of a winning combination and will be regular in the playing eleven. The rest, he buys back in the auction. I think he will build his team that way. I’ve always seen Abhishek Nayar work like this. So, I feel the KKR management believes that maybe Venkatesh Iyer has exhausted his utility, similar to how they valued Andre Russell for years.”
KKR prepare for new era under Abhishek Nayar
Notably, Iyer burst onto the IPL scene in 2021, scoring 370 runs in 10 matches during his debut season as KKR lost the trophy to Chennai Super Kings (CSK). He had also contributed 370 runs in KKR’s title-winning 2024 season. In 2025, he had a modest run, averaging 20.28.
The upcoming IPL Auction 2025 on December 16 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi will see a total of 359 players going under the hammer, and the KKR, under new head coach Abhishek Nayar and new support staff involving Shane Watson and Tim Southee, will aim to build a strong squad for the upcoming season.
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