With the IPL 2025 around the corner, Kolkata Knight Riders seem to be in for a storm with possible ankle injury to Venkatesh Iyer in Ranji Trophy match before he is picked up. One of the most important player that KKR picked up for 23.75 crores, Iyer goes off after having taken only three balls. KKR count on early returns in preparation for the tournament.
New Delhi: As the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) approaches in a little over a month and a half, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are facing a significant injury concern. Their INR 23.75 crore acquisition, Venkatesh Iyer, had to leave the field during the Ranji Trophy match between Madhya Pradesh and Kerala due to an ankle twist.
Iyer came to bat in the 18th over at the No. 6 position after Madhya Pradesh found themselves at 49/4 against Kerala, who chose to bowl first after winning the toss in Trivandrum. However, he faced only three deliveries before leaving the field in noticeable discomfort due to an ankle twist. He was assisted off the field by the Madhya Pradesh physiotherapist and several reserve players.
KKR is optimistic that the injury is not severe, as they made a significant investment in the 30-year-old during the auction. Iyer was the third-highest priced player at the IPL 2025 auction, following Rishabh Pant (27 crore) and Shreyas Iyer (26.75 crore).
The left-handed batsman was instrumental in KKR’s victory in IPL 2024, prompting the defending champions to pursue him vigorously during the IPL 2025 auction. He accumulated 370 runs with an average of 46.25 and a strike rate of 158.80, contributing significantly to several matches with his aggressive batting in the middle order.
Live streaming of the match between Kerala and Madhya Pradesh is available on Jiocinema. Additionally, fans can also view the matches between Chandigarh and Tamil Nadu, as well as Mumbai and Jammu and Kashmir, live on the same platform.
