Another display of striking batitng ahead of the IPL 2026 event. Now, it is Venkatesh Iyer who took the internet in a thrilling ride. Ahead of the event, the all-rounder showed his brilliant batting skills in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT 2025) tournament.

Venkatesh Iyer scored at a strike rate of over 162 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match against Punjab on December 16. He scored 70 runs off 43 balls, hitting 8 fours and 2 sixes, his highest score and second half-century of this season. His previous highest score was 55.

Venkatesh Iyer played a flamboynt innings just before the IPL 2026 auction

After that 55-run knock against Bihar, Venkatesh failed to score a fifty-plus score in seven consecutive innings in SMAT 2025. But the important thing is that he chose the IPL 2026 auction to end that failure.

Regarding Venkatesh Iyer’s record in the IPL, he has played 62 matches for KKR over six seasons, scoring 1,468 runs with one century and 12 half-centuries, and taking three wickets. KKR spent ₹23 crore on him in the IPL 2025 auction, but the results weren’t as impressive.

 

It remains to be seen whether KKR will bid on him this time around, or another franchise will. Venkatesh’s IPL record includes 62 matches, scoring 1,468 runs at an average of 29.86, including one century and 12 half-centuries. However, in his five-year career, he has bowled just 81 balls, taking three wickets.

Venkatesh Iyer was part of KKR last season. However, he was released by the franchise ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. Now, Venkatesh Iyer, who is entering the IPL 2026 auction, has set his base price at ₹2 crore. It’s worth noting that the IPL 2026 auction is scheduled for Abu Dhabi on December 16th, so Iyer’s innings could prove crucial just before that. Iyer was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders team last season, but the franchise released him before the auction.