Saba Karim: KKR could buy Venkatesh Iyer back after release

• KKR, under new head coach Abhishek Nayar, freed up a major portion of their purse for the IPL 2026 Auction.
• Former India cricketer Saba Karim believes KKR may buy back Venkatesh Iyer, who was released after being bought for Rs 23.75 crore in the last auction.
• Karim stated Nayar's strategy is to start fresh, keeping only key players and re-buying others at auction.
• KKR's release of Rahmanullah Gurbaz indicates a need for an opening batter, potentially a wicketkeeper, and an explosive lower-middle-order hitter.
• Venkatesh Iyer had strong seasons in 2021 and 2024 (370 runs each) but struggled in 2025 with 142 runs in 11 games.

Why It Matters: KKR's auction strategy signals a significant team overhaul for the next IPL season.