Venkatesh Rajasekaran Iyer is an Indian cricketer and batting all-rounder known for his left-handed batting and right-arm medium-pace bowling. Standing around 6 ft 4 in, Iyer is known for his power hitting and ability to contribute with both bat and ball. He has represented India in limited-overs formats, plays domestic cricket for Madhya Pradesh, and has competed in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for teams including Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Iyer was first called into India’s setup during the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup as a net bowler before being selected for the national team soon after. He made his T20I debut on 17 November 2021 against New Zealand and his ODI debut on 19 January 2022 against South Africa.
During his early international appearances, he was used as a lower middle-order batter and part-time bowler, providing balance to the team as a seam-bowling all-rounder. Although his international career so far has been relatively short, he remains considered a useful limited-overs all-round option.
Iyer began his professional career with Madhya Pradesh, making his T20 debut in 2015 and his first-class debut in 2018. He gained major recognition during the 2021–22 domestic season, where he scored heavily in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, including a score of 151, becoming the first player to score 150+ batting at number six or lower in the tournament.
In the Indian Premier League, Iyer made his debut for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2021 and quickly became a key player, helping the team reach the IPL 2021 final with over 370 runs in the tournament. He scored his first IPL century (104) in 2023 against Mumbai Indians. Later, he was bought by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for the 2026 IPL season after previously being one of the most expensive IPL signings in an earlier auction.
Across his IPL career, he has scored over 1,400 runs and established himself as a powerful top-order all-rounder in T20 cricket.
Venkatesh Iyer is known for his powerful left-handed batting, particularly in limited-overs cricket where he can bat aggressively at the top of the order or in the middle order. His medium-pace bowling provides additional balance, making him a valuable all-round option in T20 cricket. He is particularly recognized for his performances in the IPL, where his aggressive batting helped Kolkata Knight Riders reach the 2021 final.
Venkatesh Iyer is an Indian batting all-rounder known for his power hitting and ability to contribute with both bat and ball in limited-overs cricket. Rising to prominence through domestic cricket and the IPL, he quickly earned international selection and became known for his performances with Kolkata Knight Riders, including helping the team reach the IPL final. As an all-rounder with strong batting ability, he continues to be regarded as a valuable player in domestic and franchise cricket.