Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) newly appointed vice-captain, Venkatesh Iyer, expressed his gratitude for being regarded as a key player for the team. Recognizing that KKR gave him his breakthrough in 2021, he emphasized his desire to repay the franchise’s trust in him.
Ahead of the IPL 2025 auction, KKR initially released Iyer but later made a strong bid to bring him back, securing him for a massive ₹23.75 crore at the mega auction in Dubai. Following his return, he was named the team’s vice-captain.
Speaking at the ‘Knights Unplugged 2.0’ event on Wednesday, March 19, Venkatesh Iyer reflected on his journey with KKR and shared his thoughts (as quoted by PTI):
“It’s an honor to be considered a key player. KKR gave me my big break (in 2021), and now it’s time to give back. I hope this journey continues for a long time.”
The Knights’ Legacy 🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/HfTRK82j0n
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) March 19, 2025
KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane also expressed his thoughts on being appointed as the new leader of the franchise. He stated:
“It’s an honor to lead such a wonderful franchise. I’m grateful to Venky Sir and everyone behind this decision. The focus now is to ensure that everyone is on the same page as we head into the season.”
“Ajinkya Rahane Has Been an Incredible Leader” – Venkatesh Iyer Praises KKR Captain
In a previous discussion, Iyer lauded new franchise captain Rahane, calling him an outstanding leader. The left-hander also expressed his excitement about playing under the experienced Indian batter and absorbing as much knowledge as possible. The 30-year-old stated (as quoted by ‘The Times of India’):
“So far, he has been an amazing leader of the group. He has taken the initiative to make conversations with all of us and try to gel with the team. We are talking about someone who has led India across formats and captained IPL teams before.”
“He has a great head on his shoulders, remains composed under pressure, and has been a stalwart of the game. He has scored runs everywhere. For me, it’s going to be a great learning experience, and I am quite excited to play under him.” Iyer added.
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