Venkatesh Iyer silenced his critics with an explosive 60 off 29 balls, leading Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to a commanding victory over the Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2025. His blistering knock was a statement after a few underwhelming outings, reaffirming his value to the team despite the pressure surrounding his hefty price tag.
KKR’S BIG BET ON IYER
After KKR’s IPL-winning campaign in 2024, they made a bold move in the mega auction by securing Iyer for ₹23.75 crore, the third-highest bid of the season, following Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer. The high price tag inevitably brought the spotlight on Venkatesh, who had been a consistent performer for KKR since his debut in 2021. Despite a disappointing 2022 season, Iyer had been an anchor for the team, consistently scoring over 350 runs in each of the subsequent seasons. But this year, his auction price overshadowed his past achievements, placing added pressure on the left-hander.
HANDLING PRESSURE: A CLEAR FOCUS ON THE IMPACT
Despite a quiet start to IPL 2025, where Iyer managed only 9 runs across two matches (with no opportunity to bat in the second match), he wasn’t fazed. Iyer made it clear that while his price tag may have attracted attention, it didn’t define his approach to the game.
"Once the IPL begins, whether you’re bought for ₹20 lakh or ₹20 crore, it doesn't impact how you play cricket," Iyer explained after his match-winning knock. "The money doesn’t define your performance. What matters is your contribution to the team’s success. If my role requires me to play a few balls or absorb pressure, I’m happy to do that, even if I don’t score heavily. It’s about making an impact."
Iyer further emphasized that while there’s always some pressure, it’s not about the money but about helping his team win. "Yes, there's pressure, but it's more about how I can contribute. We are professionals, and it's about doing what the team needs at the right moment," he added.
A BLAZING FINISH: IYER’S DEATH OVER MASTERY
Iyer’s fireworks came in the death overs, where he hit two sixes and six fours in his final 12 balls. His most notable strike was a 20-run onslaught off SRH captain Pat Cummins in the 19th over. Iyer explained his aggressive approach: “I don't focus on who's bowling; I always look at what’s being bowled and the field placement. I want to capitalize on every opportunity.”
Though the pitch at Eden Gardens posed challenges, with several clean strikers like Quinton de Kock and Abhishek Sharma struggling, Iyer adapted quickly. He revealed that he and Rinku Singh (32* off 17 balls) needed time to adjust to the conditions. "The ball was sticking, turning a bit. The main communication came from Ajinkya and Angrish when they were batting, and they warned us it wouldn't be easy to start hitting straight away."
HOME ADVANTAGE: ADJUSTING TO EDEN GARDENS PITCH
The Eden Gardens pitch has been under the microscope lately, especially with the curator's statement that the pitch wouldn't be tailored to franchise demands. While Iyer said it would be nice to have home advantage, he remained pragmatic: "We are professional cricketers; we should be able to adapt to whatever the pitch offers. If we get favourable conditions, it would be great, but we must focus on using what we have."
KKR's COMPREHENSIVE WIN
With Iyer's explosive knock, KKR posted a total of 200/6. The bowlers then backed him up by dismissing SRH for just 120 runs in 16.4 overs, securing an 80-run victory.
Iyer summed up KKR’s approach to aggressive cricket: “Aggression is about having the right intent. It’s not about hitting everything for sixes, but about reading the situation. If we're 15/6, it’s not the right time to go after every ball. As a team, we focus on smart aggression—maximizing the situation in our favour.”
In a nutshell, Iyer's performance was not just about scoring big runs; it was about understanding the match situation, adjusting to the pitch, and making impactful contributions when it mattered most.
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