NEW DELHI: Venkatesh Iyer turned out to be a surprise star at the IPL 2025 mega auction, with reigning champions Kolkata Knight Riders splashing a massive Rs 23.75 crore to bring him back into the fold.
The left-handed Iyer, who was not retained by KKR ahead of the auction, has scored 1,326 runs in 50 IPL matches.
Iyer entered the auction with a base price of Rs 2 crore, with KKR making the first move. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) quickly tried to outbid them. Iyer was a key player in KKR’s title-winning run last season, and the bidding war heated up.

Steady paddle lifts continued at both the LSG and KKR tables as the price climbed. LSG raised the bid to Rs 6 crore, but soon dropped out, leaving KKR in the lead at Rs 7.75 crore – a potential steal. However, just when it seemed like KKR had it, a new contender entered: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
The bidding war intensified as the bid soared past Rs 12 crore, with KKR pushing it to Rs 14 crore and RCB fighting back. The competition heated up, and the price skyrocketed to Rs 18 crore and then Rs 19 crore, with KKR eventually taking it to Rs 19.25 crore.
The paddles kept rising as the bid raced past Rs 20 crore, with KKR holding the lead at Rs 20.75 crore.
RCB, though, was not backing down. As the bidding reached new heights, it touched Rs 23.75 crore. RCB, after some fierce back-and-forth, eventually dropped out, and Iyer was sold to KKR for Rs 23.75 crore.