The Board of Cricket Control of India has released a list of 350 players eligible for the 2026 IPL mini auction. Among the 350 players, several players were added after franchises mailed BCCI to add them to the list. Now the question is, is Venkatesh Iyer one of those wanted players? Notably, Kolkata Knight Riders seems to be fond of Venkatesh Iyer, since they took him in 2021. And he did not disappoint the franchise at all. A late bloomer in 2021, the opening left-handed batter scored the bulk of runs in the second half of the season, after it shifted to the UAE. His best season for the franchise was in 2023, when he scored 404 runs; the same season he became the second centurion for KKR after Brendon McCullum. Despite a banger in 2023, his performance dipped again in 2024. KKR had released Venkatesh Iyer before the IPL 2025 Mega Auction. Why would KKR stick with Venkatesh Iyer? However, known for their "loyalty" and backing players, KKR not only raised their paddle for Venkatesh but also had an aggressive fight before emptying almost half of their remaining purse after retention. They got him for a huge INR ₹ 23.75 crore, one of the top buys of the season. Currently, KKR is entering the Mini Auction 2026, with the highest purse value of ₹ 64.30 crore. They have 13 slots, including up to 6 overseas slots, to fill before the auction. Currently, KKR is in search of an all-rounder, and Venkatesh Iyer might be a good catch if they love to search within known faces. Notably, Venkatesh Iyer has played 62 matches since 2021, scoring 1468 runs. He has a pattern of scoring in alternate sessions, and who knows, he might fire in 2026! Year Matches played Innings Runs Average Strike Rate 2021 10 10 370 41.11 128.47 2022 12 12 182 16.54 107.69 2023 14 14 404 28.85 145.84 2024 15 13 370 46.25 158.79 2025 11 7 142 20.28 139.21 Even though Venky has been an all-rounder, he bowled in just 9 matches with 3 wickets, all of those coming in 2021. Read also: Why Nikhil Chaudhary is Listed as 'Uncapped Indian' in IPL Auction Despite Playing in Australia Venkatesh Iyer SMAT 2025 performance Notably, his 2021 IPL performance earned him the T20I cap. But he played for India in 9 matches, scoring 133 runs in the 7 innings he got chances. He had a strike rate of 162.19, with his highest as 35*. However, he was pushed down to the middle order, something he is trying to adopt in the domestic tournaments too. Currently he is playing for Madhya Pradesh in the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. There he played 7 matches, scoring 111 runs, with a strike rate of 103.73. His best was the Elite Group B against Bihar, where he scored 55/ off 34 balls. It had earned him the Man of the Match award too. For the 2026 IPL Mini Auction, Venkatesh Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi are the only two Indians in the INR 2 crore quota. And, speaking about KKR's chances, they might play the gamble given his not-so-disappointing performances for the franchise. Yes, his 2025 performance may not be apt for the price he got. But it does not downplay KKR's chance of not putting up the paddle at all for him. But going gaga for him will be absolutely desperate for them.