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IPL 2026 Auction: Venkatesh Iyer makes a last-ditch attempt to inflate his price

Harsh Adwani

Venkatesh Iyer performs in SMAT on IPL auction day [Source: @muffadal_vohra/x.com]Venkatesh Iyer performs in SMAT on IPL auction day [Source: @muffadal_vohra/x.com]

Venkatesh Iyer has made a strong case for himself for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini auction. The star player, released by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) earlier this year, gave a strong performance on the auction day during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), playing for Madhya Pradesh against Punjab.

Iyer struck 70 runs off 43 balls, with eight fours and two sixes, in the SMAT Elite 2025 Super League Group A match at the DY Patil Academy in Ambi, Pune. This will surely work in his favour as the teams get into the auction room in a few hours.

The star all-rounder will surely be in KKR’s plans once again. He was purchased for ₹23.75 crores last time, and the Men in Purple will look to buy him back for a much lower price. He has played a massive part in the team’s success over the years, but the pressure to justify his price tag kept him from scoring big last time around.

KKR could repurchase Venkatesh Iyer in the IPL 2026 auction

He was their vice captain last season, and this time, he will look to repay the team for the trust the team has shown in him. While he is not expected to be the most expensive player, Iyer is sure to be among the top bids for the 2026 season. KKR also have the highest purse, which will play a key role in them repurchasing him.

In the meantime, the auction is set to be held in Abu Dhabi at 2:30 PM on Tuesday, December 16. Kolkata Knight Riders have the highest remaining purse with ₹64.3 crores available to them, while Chennai Super Kings are second in line with ₹43.4 crores in their kitty. These two will be the most active teams in the auction.