Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) may be planning a significant roster shake-up ahead of IPL 2026, with former India cricketer Aakash Chopra suggesting that the franchise could release ₹23.75 crore buy Venkatesh Iyer following his omission from the team’s final group-stage match against Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2025.
Despite being one of the most expensive buys in IPL history, Venkatesh was left on the bench and not even used as an impact substitute during the crucial match. Manish Pandey, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, and Ramandeep Singh were all preferred, raising eyebrows about the all-rounder’s future with the team. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra called the move a clear indicator of KKR’s off-season intentions.
“The big news for me from this match was that they didn’t play Venkatesh Iyer,” Chopra said. “He was in the impact substitutes list, but wasn’t used at all. They chose to go with other players instead. Is that a sign they’ll release him before the next auction?” Chopra further speculated that KKR may release Iyer to free up the massive purse amount and possibly buy him back at a reduced price during the 2026 auction.
Meanwhile, KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane blamed the team’s underwhelming batting performances as the key reason for their disappointing 8th-place finish this season. The defending champions suffered a massive 110-run defeat to SRH in their last outing, closing out a turbulent campaign. “It’s just that three-four of our key batters were out of form,” Rahane said in the post-match press conference. “Collectively, as a batting unit, we couldn’t perform. The bowling unit did a decent job, but the lack of consistent runs cost us games.”
Players like Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, and Andre Russell all had below-par seasons, contributing to the inconsistency. However, Rahane expressed faith in the team’s experienced core and expects a stronger comeback in the next season. “These players are seasoned campaigners. They know how to bounce back. This off-season will be important for reflection and improvement,” he added.
As IPL franchises begin preparing retention lists and auction strategies, KKR's decision regarding Venkatesh Iyer will be closely watched. Whether they gamble on buying him back for less or move on entirely, it’s clear that big decisions lie ahead for the two-time champions.
