NEW DELHI: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer has addressed the spotlight surrounding his hefty IPL 2025 price tag, saying that while the pressure is real, his focus remains on effort and performance, not the numbers.
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KKR broke the bank at the mega auction to bring Iyer back for Rs 23.75 crore — one of the most expensive buys in IPL history — after briefly releasing him following their title-winning campaign last year. But for Iyer, his mindset remains unchanged.
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"To be honest, I’m not ignoring it completely — I’m a practical person. I know there’s pressure, and there’s a lot of talk around the price and all those things. But at the same time, that’s not in my control. What is in my control is the effort I put in to help the team win, and that remains constant — whether I'm paid Rs 23 crore or Rs 20 lakh," Iyer said on JioHotstar’s ‘Gen Bold’.
Iyer, who has also stepped into a leadership role under new skipper Ajinkya Rahane, emphasised his commitment across all fronts — bat, ball and mentorship. “Once the tournament begins, that’s my only focus: to contribute in every way I can,” he said.
After a slow start this season, Iyer roared back with a 60 off 29 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad. As KKR adapts to changes in leadership — with DJ Bravo replacing Gautam Gambhir as mentor — Iyer remains grounded, embracing the present. “Only today’s match, today’s moment matters,” he said.
