NEW DELHI: Former Australian cricketer Aaron Finch has advised the three-time Indian Premier League (IPL) winner Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) not to spend Rs. 23.75 crore on Venkatesh Iyer and suggested the franchise consider releasing him and repurchasing him at a ‘reasonable price’ in the upcoming IPL 2026 auction.
Iyer was the costliest player in KKR’s IPL 2025 squad, with Rinku Singh being the second most expensive at Rs. 13 crore. The three-time champions only had Rs. 0.05 crore remaining in their purse when they concluded the auction last year, and would want to free up a handful of funds when they head to the upcoming auction.
Speaking on JioStar, Finch analysed KKR’s retention decision on Venkatesh Iyer, saying, “Paying 23.75 crore is too high for a player like Venkatesh Iyer, who has been used out of position as a middle-order batter without utilising his bowling. While Venkatesh Iyer has been a match-winner for KKR, being their top scorer in 2021 and helping them lift the trophy in 2024, his inconsistent role and high price tag don’t align. KKR should consider releasing him to free up funds and potentially buy him back at a more reasonable price that matches his current role in the team.”