Venkatesh Iyer

Venkatesh Iyer is a left-handed batting all-rounder representing India. He is also a decent operator with his medium-pace bowling. Born in Indore, Iyer began his professional career when he made his T20 debut for Madhya Pradesh against Saurashtra during the 2014-15 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy season. Later in the year, he represented Madhya Pradesh in the List A format during the 2015-16 Vijay Hazare Trophy. Three years later, in 2018, Iyer made his first-class debut for Madhya Pradesh against Hyderabad in the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy.

The Kolkata franchise showed faith in him and acquired his services for the 2021 Indian Premier League season. He had a brilliant debut season and played a key role in Kolkata's journey to the final. After the Indian Premier League season, Iyer received his maiden call-up to the national side for the T20I series against New Zealand. He made his T20 debut in that series and would later go on to make his ODI debut against South Africa in January 2022.

Having been retained by Kolkata ahead of the 2023 Indian Premier League auction, Iyer scoring 404 runs that season. He followed it up with 370 runs in the next edition, including a fifty in the final as Kolkata lifted their third title. He was once again retained ahead of the 2025 IPL auction. A relatively quiet 2025 season, however, saw KKR release him, and RCB snapped him up for the 2026 IPL for INR 7 crore.

The 2025-26 domestic season proved to be a mixed bag for Venkatesh, who also led Madhya Pradesh during the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Rajat Patidar's absence.