Venkatesh Iyer, who was born on 25 December 1994, is an Indian cricketer who plays for Madhya Pradesh in domestic cricket and represents the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League. Known for his dynamic batting and handy medium-pace bowling, Iyer has carved out a name for himself in both domestic and international cricket.
Venkatesh Iyer Biography
| Full name | Venkatesh Rajasekaran Iyer |
| Born | 25 December 1994, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India |
| Age | 29 |
| Father | Rajasekaran Iyer |
| Mother | Usha Iyer |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) |
| Batting | Left-handed |
| Bowling | Right-arm medium |
| National side | India (2021–present) |
| Test Debut | — |
| ODI debut | 19 January 2022 v South Africa |
| ODI shirt no. | 25 |
| T20I debut | 17 November 2021 v New Zealand |
| T20I shirt no. | 25 |
Teams
Madhya Pradesh Under-16s
Mumbai
Venkatesh Iyer Stats
Test Batting Record
| Mat | Inns | Runs | HS | Avg | SR | 100s | 50s |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Test Bowling Record
| Mat | Inns | Overs | Runs | Wkts | BBI | Avg | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
ODI Batting Record
| Mat | Inns | Runs | HS | Avg | SR | 100s | 50s |
| 2 | 2 | 24 | 22 | 12.00 | 60.00 | 0 | 0 |
ODI Bowling Record
| Mat | Inns | Overs | Runs | Wkts | BBI | Avg | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w |
| 2 | 1 | 5 | 28 | 0 | — | — | 5.60 | — | 0 | 0 |
T20I Batting Record
| Mat | Inns | Runs | HS | Avg | SR | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s |
| 9 | 7 | 133 | 35* | 33.25 | 162.19 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 5 |
T20I Bowling Record
| Mat | Inns | Overs | Runs | Wkts | BBI | Avg | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w |
| 9 | 4 | 9.1 | 75 | 5 | 2/23 | 15.00 | 8.18 | 11.0 | 0 | 0 |
IPL Batting Record
| Year | Mat | Runs | HS | Avg | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 50 | 1326 | 104 | 31.57 | 137.13 | 1 | 11 | 121 | 61 |
| 2024 | 14 | 370 | 70 | 46.25 | 158.8 | 0 | 4 | 35 | 19 |
| 2023 | 14 | 404 | 104 | 28.86 | 145.85 | 1 | 2 | 32 | 21 |
| 2022 | 12 | 182 | 50* | 16.55 | 107.69 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 7 |
| 2021 | 10 | 370 | 67 | 41.11 | 128.47 | 0 | 4 | 37 | 14 |
IPL Bowling Record
| Year | Mat | Runs | WKTS | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4W | 5W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 51 | 143 | 3 | 2/29 | 47.67 | 10.59 | 27 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 15 | 28 | 0 | 0/28 | – | 28 | – | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 14 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 12 | 46 | 0 | 0/8 | – | 11.5 | – | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 10 | 69 | 3 | 2/29 | 23 | 8.11 | 17 | 0 | 0 |
Venkatesh Iyer Debut Matches
IPL Debut: 20 September 2021 vs Royal Challengers Bangalore for Kolkata Knight Riders
Test Debut: Not Yet
ODI Debut: 19 January 2022 v South Africa
T20I Debut: 17 November 2021 v New Zealand
Venkatesh Iyer Biography
Domestic Career
Venkatesh Iyer’s cricket journey began in 2015 when he made his T20 debut for Madhya Pradesh against Railways at Holkar Stadium. Later that year, in December, he made his List A debut against Saurashtra. Despite his promising start in cricket, Iyer initially pursued a Bachelor of Commerce degree. However, after clearing his CA Intermediate examinations, he decided to drop out and pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in finance, allowing him to focus fully on cricket.
Venkatesh Iyer’s big break came in 2018 when he made his first-class debut for Madhya Pradesh in the 2018–19 Ranji Trophy. He continued to impress with his performances, particularly in the 2021-22 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he finished as his team’s top scorer with 155 runs at an average of 51.66. His stellar form continued in the 2021-22 Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he scored 379 runs at an average of 63.16, including two centuries. Notably, one of these centuries was a stunning 151 runs, making Iyer the first player to score 150 or more while batting at number six or lower in the history of the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Additionally, he showcased his all-round abilities by taking 9 wickets in six matches.
Indian Premier League Career
Venkatesh Iyer’s IPL journey began in 2021 when he was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for just 20 lacs. His debut came on 20 September 2021 against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the UAE leg of the tournament. Just a few days later, on 23 September, he scored his maiden IPL fifty against the Mumbai Indians. Iyer’s consistent form throughout the tournament played a crucial role in KKR’s run to the IPL 2021 final, as he accumulated 370 runs at an average of 41 and a strike rate of 129.
Iyer’s performances in the IPL were particularly important during KKR’s knockout matches, where he was named Player of the Match in the second qualifier after scoring 55 runs. He followed this up with another half-century in the final, where he and his opening partner Shubman Gill added 91 runs, though KKR lost the final to Chennai Super Kings.
In 2023, Iyer achieved a major milestone by scoring his maiden IPL century. On 16 April 2023, he blasted 104 runs off 51 balls against the Mumbai Indians, becoming just the second player in KKR history to score an IPL century after Brendon McCullum. Unfortunately, his magnificent century was in a losing cause as KKR succumbed to defeat.
Iyer’s rising stock in the IPL was reflected in the 2025 auction when KKR secured his services once again for a record sum of 23.75 crore, making him one of the most expensive players in IPL history.
International Career
Venkatesh Iyer’s performances in domestic cricket and the IPL earned him recognition, which resulted in the national call. In 2021, he was asked to stay back in the UAE as a net bowler for India during the ICC T20 World Cup. His solid performances saw him being named in India’s T20I squad for the series against New Zealand. He made his T20I debut on 17 November 2021, where he played against New Zealand. In the final match of the series, he made his bowling debut, picking up a wicket in his first-ever over, returning figures of 3-0-12-1.
In January 2022, Iyer was named in the ODI squad for their series against South Africa, where he made his debut on 19 January 2022. He continued to shine in T20I cricket, particularly in the series against the West Indies in early 2022, where he played a finishing role with the bat and scored runs at an explosive strike rate of 179.24. He also picked up two wickets in the series.
In June 2022, Iyer was again included in India’s squad for a T20I series against Ireland, further cementing his place as a versatile all-rounder in India’s limited-overs setup.
Venkatesh Iyer has rapidly emerged as one of the most exciting all-rounders in Indian cricket. His journey from domestic cricket to international fame, highlighted by his performances in the IPL and for India, speaks volumes about his talent and determination. With his ability to contribute with both bat and ball, Iyer is poised to be a key figure for Indian cricket in the future.
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