NEW DELHI: Kolkata Knight Riders’ vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer has opened up about the buzz around his big IPL 2025 price tag. While he admits the pressure is part of the game, Iyer made it clear that he’s more focused on giving his best on the field than worrying about the figures.
KKR went all out at the mega auction, spending a whopping Rs 23.75 crore to bring Venkatesh Iyer back into the squad—making him one of the costliest signings in IPL history. The move came after a brief release following their title-winning season. But for Iyer, it’s business as usual—his mindset and approach to the game haven’t changed one bit.
“Honestly, I won’t say I’m blocking it all out — I’m a practical guy,” Iyer shared on JioHotstar’s ‘Gen Bold’. “There’s definitely pressure and a lot of chatter about the price tag. But that’s not something I can control. What I can control is the effort I bring to the field to help my team win. That doesn’t change—whether I’m picked for Rs 23 crore or Rs 20 lakh.”
Stepping up as a senior figure under new captain Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer is embracing his expanded role — contributing with the bat, the ball, and as a mentor to the squad. “Once the tournament kicks off, my only focus is to give everything I’ve got, in every department,” he said.
After a quiet start to the season, Iyer made a strong statement with a blistering 60 off just 29 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad. As KKR navigates a period of transition — with DJ Bravo stepping in as mentor after Gautam Gambhir’s exit — Iyer is staying grounded and locked in. “What matters is today — today’s match, today’s moment,” he added.
