He played a stellar hand in KKR’s title triumph and was also a part of the leadership group for the franchise in 2024. Having missed out on retention, Venkatesh Iyer is understandably emotional. And yet he sees the rationale behind the retentions and hopes that his former franchise will surely lift the paddle for him at the auction.
Excerpts from the conversation:
Boria: You had some fantastic seasons with KKR. When you came on the scene in 2021, KKR seemed down and out. And then that fantastic run taking the team to the finals. In 2024, the title win. Clearly, you must be feeling the emotion at missing out on retention.
Venkatesh Iyer: I wouldn’t be truthful if I say I am not. KKR was not just a franchise I was playing for. It was like a family, and there are bonds that we have forged. There are some serious relationships there, and I had some fantastic moments with the team. KKR had given me the opportunity, and I tried to make the most of what I got. You do feel a little teary-eyed at not seeing your name in that retention list, but you also understand the choices made. Each one retained deserves to be retained. I do hope that in the forthcoming auction, KKR will see value in putting up the paddle for me.
Boria: That was my next question. Would you be hoping that KKR goes for you at the auction? They don’t have a Right to Match (RTM) left, so it would be open bidding.
Venkatesh Iyer: I haven’t said this to anyone before. When KKR bid for me the first time, there is no video of it. I haven’t actually seen KKR put up the paddle for me. And then, in the next auction, I was retained. So I have never seen the paddle go up for me at the auction. I have to say I am excitedly waiting for the moment when it happens, and I am surely hoping KKR does raise the paddle for me. It will be vindication of what I have been able to do in the last four years.
Boria: Not many remember that after Nitish Rana was injured earlier this year, you were made the vice-captain of KKR. How much did it help you evolve as a player and leader having been given a leadership role?
Venkatesh Iyer: Hugely. I still remember Gautam Gambhir telling me that I have been with the franchise for four years, and if I think of something, I must voice my opinion for it will always have value. You feel very good when you are told this. And then, when Nitish unfortunately got injured, I was appointed vice-captain and it was a huge moment in my career. Again, Gautam bhai always said to me that if was standing at slip and Shreyas, our captain, was fielding deep, I should always take responsibility and change the field if I thought so. If I was seeing something and wanted to do an adjustment, I was always encouraged to do it. That’s what felt very empowering. And now, I have to say that whichever dressing room I walk into, be it Madhya Pradesh, KKR or any other team that decides to invest in me, I know I will be a leader in that set-up. Not necessarily the captain, but surely a leader whose words will be taken seriously.
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Venkatesh Iyer Exclusive
Sport is emotion. And you can see @venkateshiyer has a lot of positive emotion for @KKRiders
Here is his auction wish. @RevSportzGlobal full intrw Sun 1130am. @rohitjuglan @CricSubhayan @debasissen @shamik100 @gargiraut15 @KnightsVibe @KKRUniverse pic.twitter.com/D8ins5Ppi3
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) November 2, 2024
Boria: You are playing Ranji Trophy at the moment. Huge season for you, because you can surely make it back to the national side as an all-rounder. The 2025 IPL can open doors for the World Cup as well.
Venkatesh Iyer: Yes, but I am not willing to put pressure on myself by thinking this. I take a lot of inspiration in seeing Varun [Chakaravarthy]. That he made it back to the national team is the result of all the hard work he has put in the last three years. If he can, I can. I know it. But as Shahrukh Sir once told me, we don’t often recognise the value of what we have now by thinking of what we want in the future. At the moment, I want to well in the Ranji Trophy. Play and win as many games for MP as I can. I am not one for big runs or big wickets. Rather, I am one for impact. I want to have impact for the team and win as many matches as possible. Then, there is the auction and the kid in me is excitedly waiting for it to see which all teams want me and put up the paddle for me. So there is plenty there for me in the now, and I want to focus on all of this. If I do these well, the national team call-up will surely happen.
Boria: Final question. In the last four years, you have seen it all – enormous success, failure, retention, IPL trophy win, getting dropped from the national team. An entire range, I have to say. How much have you evolved as a person basis all of this?
Venkatesh Iyer: I have to say it has helped me hugely as a person. In 2021, I could do no wrong. Runs, wickets, one-handed catches – all happened to me. I felt it was all very doable. Then came the difficult period. Nothing was easy. I had to work the hardest to make it back again in 2024. Winning the IPL title takes the cake, and it meant I had seen it all. In all of this, you go through a range of emotions and that’s what helps you mature. Now I know I can deal with things. I won’t be flustered and I can handle any adversity. That’s what you learn in the process.