Venkatesh Iyer has been released by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), despite being one of the most expensive players in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
In the IPL 2025 mega-auction, Iyer had been bought by KKR for a huge ₹23.75 crore — making him the third most expensive player ever in the league, after Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer.
However, in the 2025 season, Venkatesh Iyer failed to live up to expectations. He managed only 142 runs in 11 matches and did not contribute with the ball. Because of his poor performance, KKR decided not to retain him ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction.
At the same time, the league has seen major team reshuffles: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) have pulled off a big trade. Veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and England all-rounder Sam Curran have been traded from CSK to RR. In return, RR’s long-time wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson moves to CSK.
This trade marks the end of an era — Jadeja had spent many years at CSK and was a key player. CSK’s management said the move was difficult but necessary, as they want a strong Indian top-order batter.
For Rajasthan Royals, getting Jadeja back (plus Sam Curran) strengthens their all-rounder and middle-order depth.
What this means for players and teams
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For Venkatesh Iyer: his huge price tag didn’t protect him — poor performance meant KKR cut him loose. He’ll enter the upcoming auction as a free agent.
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For KKR: this shows how ruthless IPL teams can be; even high-price players are not safe if they underperform.
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For CSK and RR: the trade indicates shifting strategies — CSK wants top-order Indian batsmen; RR wants all-round stability.
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For fans: many expected Jadeja to stay at CSK — his move to RR could affect team balance and fan emotions.
