In a worrying development for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of IPL 2025, star all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer suffered a painful ankle injury during Early trophy clash between Madhya Pradesh and Kerala on Thursday, January 23. The match, held in Trivandrum, saw Iyer withdraw injured after a brief and unfortunate break at the crease.
Details of the injury
Iyer came in at No.6 after Madhya Pradesh were reeling at 49/4 in the 18th over, after strong bowling by Kerala, who opted to field first after being awarded the toss. Unfortunately, the 30-year-old lasted just three balls before twisting his ankle attempting a quick move. Grimacing in pain, Iyer was helped off the field by the team’s physiotherapist and substitutes, unable to continue his innings.
Venkatesh Iyer twisted his ankle 🥲
Hoping for his speedy recovery 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/O9ifsPkX30
— Knights club: KKR (@KnightClub_KKR) January 23, 2025
Later in the match, Iyer was spotted in the dugout, with one pad still on his legs, his injured leg resting on a chair. While the exact severity of the injury is yet to be confirmed, the incident has raised concerns for KKR, who invested heavily in the all-rounder during the IPL 2025 auction.
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Big blow for KKR
The injury comes as a significant setback for KKR, who bought Iyer for a whopping £26.5 crore, making him the third most expensive player in the IPL 2025 auction.Only Rishabh Pant (Rs 27 crore) and Shreyas Iyer (Rs 26.75 crore) achieved higher offers. KKR’s aggressive pursuit of Iyer at the auction showed their faith in his abilities as they saw off strong competition from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to bring him back into their fold.
Iyer’s absence, if prolonged, could significantly affect KKR’s title defence. The franchise will be hoping that the injury is minor and that the star all-rounder can recover in time for the IPL 2025 season, which is set to begin in March.
KKR’s faith in Iyer stems from his outstanding performance in the 2024 season. Released before the auction, Iyer returned to the team with consistent displays, scoring 370 runs in 13 innings at an impressive average of 46.25 and a strike rate of 158.79 . His campaign included four half-centuries, highlighting his importance to the team’s batting line-up.
Known for his versatility, Iyer has been a vital cog for KKR, contributing not only with the bat but also as a handy bowler. His ability to accelerate in the middle overs and finish matches makes him a key asset for the defending champions. Losing him at any part of the season could derail KKR’s plans as they look to maintain their dominance in IPL 2025.
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