Kolkata Knight Riders are said to be considering letting Venkatesh Iyer go before the 2026 Indian Premier League season. The move comes after a poor 2025 season by the all-rounder, who was unable to cut it despite being a star signing for the side.
Purchased at a whopping Rs 23.75 crore, Iyer could muster only 142 runs from seven matches. His strike rate of 139.22 and average of 20.29 were way short of expectations for a top-order batsman, particularly considering his price and pre-tournament promise.
Iyer was also made vice-captain by Ajinkya Rahane, a choice that indicated the management’s confidence in his captaincy skills. Yet, he was unable to get going through the season and was ultimately replaced for a critical encounter versus the Chennai Super Kings – a stark reflection of the team’s eroding confidence in him.
His dismal performances have made headlines as one of the season’s biggest disappointments, especially considering the huge financial outlay by KKR. With the franchise not making it to the playoffs, a complete overhaul appears to be on the cards, and releasing Iyer might just be a part of that wider shake-up.
Letting go of Iyer would not only clear room in the team but also release valuable funds prior to the impending auction – funds KKR could utilize to recruit a more dependable and regular top-order player. Although word has not been made official yet, several sources indicate Iyer will most probably be released or traded within the next transfer window.
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Chandrakant Pandit Also on the Way Out?
The changes could extend beyond the playing personnel. There is also word that KKR are planning to bid adieu to head coach Chandrakant Pandit. Even with his robust domestic record, Pandit has been unable to take that success into the IPL. A lone fairly strong 2024 season, which owed much to Gautam Gambhir’s comeback as mentor, has been the exception to the rest under his captaincy.
Reports in the Bengali media suggest that KKR could be planning to pass the baton to Abhishek Nayar, who had been let go from his role as India’s assistant coach before joining back the franchise recently. With an infrastructure-level understanding of player development and good working relationship with many KKR players, Nayar is an obvious choice for the top job.
With KKR looking to kickstart a transformative rebuilding process, player and coaching overhaul may shape the pillars of their approach leading into IPL 2026.
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