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IPL 2025: 3 Players KKR Could Have Targeted Instead Of Venkatesh Iyer In Mega Auction

Probuddha Bhattacharjee

Venkatesh Iyer for KKR [Source: @KRxtra/x.com]Venkatesh Iyer for KKR [Source: @KRxtra/x.com]

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The IPL 2024 champions, Kolkata Knight Riders surprised quite a few fans when they decided to spend INR 23.75 Cr for Venkatesh Iyer. While there may have been reasons behind the franchise going hard to retain him, many cricket experts and pundits felt that they overpaid for the Indian all-rounder. 

First of all, let us see why KKR spent so much on Venkatesh Iyer - 

Why KKR Spent INR 23.75 Cr On Venkatesh Iyer?

Venkatesh Iyer has been a faithful servant for KKR for the past four seasons. He has shown his versatility as a batter moving up and down in the top-order and scoring runs. Besides, Iyer can also delivery a couple of overs with the ball and that adds another dimension to him as a player. 

Besides, Iyer's utility it is the urge to retain their core of Indian players that might have prompted the KKR management to big hard for him during the auction. However, considering the fact that he bowled only 13.3 overs during his four years in KKR points to the fact that they might have gone a bit overboard to repurchase him as an all-rounder. A price range of around 10-15 Cr would have been justified.

If KKR let go off Iyer by the 15 Cr mark and he went to some other franchise, here are three players KKR could have bought at a cheaper price instead of him.

3. Manoj Bhandage

Manoj Bhandage for RCB [Source: @coach_dk19/x.com]Manoj Bhandage for RCB [Source: @coach_dk19/x.com]

This young all-rounder ended up being a part of the RCB set up for INR 30 Lakhs. Manoj Bhandage has recently proven his all-round skills in the latest edition of the Maharaja T20 League. The south paw can swing his bat and up the ante at any given moment. He can also float around the batting order allowing great dynamism and flexibility to the management. Besides, this young all-rounder can also deliver a couple of overs with the ball if the team needs it.

2. Aaron Hardie

Aaron Hardie for Perth Scorchers In BBL [Source:@BBL/x.com]Aaron Hardie for Perth Scorchers In BBL [Source:@BBL/x.com]

The young Australian has already proven his mettle as an all-rounder in the T20 format. Aaron Hardie can provide to any batting line-up at the top and then contribute effectively with the ball in hand. In fact looking at his track record, one can say, Hardie could have been more useful for KKR than Venky Iyer as a bowler. He was sold for INR 1.25 Cr to the Punjab Kings in the auction. If KKR could have snapped him up for around INR 3-4 Cr, they could have used the rest of the money on a better Indian talent or could have assimilated more backups for the team.

1. Marcus Stoinis

Marcus Stoinis for LSG [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/x.com]Marcus Stoinis for LSG [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/x.com]

The premier Australian all-rounder could have been a great addition to the KKR line-up. With Marcus Stoinis in the middle-order along with Andre Russell and Rinku Singh, they could have got the right mixture of dynamism and stability. Also the fact that Stonis can pick up the ball at any stage of a T20 match and deliver a couple of useful overs adds to his value as a player. 

The Australian all-rounder was sold for INR 2 Cr to the Punjab Kings. This further points to the fact that KKR could have got within INR 5 Cr and could have used the rest of the money in a better way.