In a positive update for KKR and Madhya Pradesh supporters, star all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer‘s ankle injury is not serious, according to a trusted source speaking to Sportskeeda. Iyer twisted his ankle on the first day of Madhya Pradesh’s Elite Group C match against Kerala, sparking concerns among fans and on social media.
However, Sportskeeda has confirmed there are no major injury issues. The 30-year-old was kept off the field on January 24 as a precautionary measure. While facing his third ball, Iyer attempted a flick off fast bowler NP Basil towards deep square leg, but twisted his right ankle during the movement.
Unable to complete the run, he collapsed on the pitch, visibly in pain. With less than two months until IPL 2025, KKR fans grew anxious as their ₹23.75 crore signing hobbled off the field after receiving treatment.
Madhya Pradesh found themselves in deep trouble at 50 for four, with their key middle-order batter sidelined due to injury. The situation worsened as they slid to 95 for seven. However, in a show of resilience, Venkatesh Iyer returned to the crease, his limp still evident.
Despite an ankle injury, Venkatesh Iyer attacked the bowlers, smashing Aditya Sarvate for a six and a four. He added 43 runs with Avesh Khan, scoring a gutsy 42 off 80 before being bowled by NP Basil on the innings’ penultimate ball, helping MP reach 160.
Venkatesh Iyer and Madhya Pradesh’s Performance in Ranji Trophy 2024-25
The second phase of the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy began on Thursday, January 23, with Madhya Pradesh facing slim chances of reaching the knockouts. They sit sixth in their eight-team group, having accumulated just 10 points from five matches.
MP began with three draws, failing to secure first-innings leads, as Venkatesh Iyer managed only 58 runs in three innings and missed the Punjab game. They bounced back with a dominant innings-and-108-run win over Bihar, powered by Iyer’s 174 off 176 and Shubham Sharma’s 240.
They nearly followed it up with another win against Bengal but fell just 12 runs short of chasing a target of 338. Iyer contributed a gritty 53 off 95 balls in the fourth innings. The all-rounder has scored 330 runs in seven innings, averaging 47.14 with a strike rate of 72.84.
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