Ex-India pacer highlights KKR's mistake, says ‘Rs 23.75 crore buy is neither main player nor captain’

Venkatesh Iyer has only scored 135 runs at a strike rate of 139 from 9 games. (AP Photo)

Kolkata Knight Riders have experimented with a number of opening combinations in the IPL 2025 but nothing has worked for them thus far. Although Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Moeen Ali, and Quinton de Kock all teamed up with Sunil Narine, KKR have struggled to find a strong opening combination this season.

One of the key factors in KKR's drive to the title last season was the consistent starts that Phil Salt and Narine provided. However, Narine and none of the openers have been able to replicate the same this season. And weighing-in on the same former India pacer RP Singh recommended KKR to reconsider their strategy.

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According to RP, KKR should start with Narine and Venkatesh Iyer and play one less overseas player. Iyer, who established himself at the top of the order in the IPL, could be tested as an opener, according to the former left-arm bowler.

“Reduce one foreign player. And get Venkatesh Iyer as an opener. I think Narine should stay. His batting performance is important. Venkatesh Iyer can open with Narine. And use the power of Rahman Powell. It's not a bad option. It happens a lot. Looking at the nets, current form, and surrounding scenarios. Coaches and support staff assess who is in the best form,” the ex-cricketer said while addressing the media on JioStar IPL Expert.

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Iyer, KKR's most expensive selection in the mega auction, has been a huge letdown this season. The left-handed batter barely has much to show in the 18th season, barring a half-century.

"KKR have invested a lot Venkatesh Iyer. He has given a lot of time. Let him be an opener," said RP.

The former quick also felt that KKR should have given Iyer more responsibility and made him captain, considering his whopping Rs 23.75 crore price tag.

"When you make a player a part of your team in such a big auction, you must be thinking about whether he will be our main player or our captaincy material. But both those things are not there. I think KKR management has made a mistake. When you left your best captain (Shreyas Iyer) at the auction table, somebody will definitely pick him and now he's captaining well at PBKS."

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Iyer must be under a lot of pressure to justify his price tag, RP continued. "At this moment, I don't think it will be wise to drop Iyer. You have given him a number of matches. You can only get a quality player back in form by giving him more matches. The money given to him to make him a part of the team could be playing in his mind. 'I have received so much money, why can't I make my team a champion?' There is overpressure," he said.

Iyer has only scored 135 runs at a strike rate of 139 from 9 games.