'Very long term in terms of our thinking' - KKR CEO Venky Mysore on splashing INR 12.25 crore on Shreyas Iyer in mega auction

Indian batter Shreyas Iyer was picked up by the Kolkata Knight Riders in the mega auction for a whopping INR 12.25 Crore and he is expected to be the captain of the team. Five franchises battled their ways for Iyer in the auction and the KKR finally landed the 27-year-old. Iyer led the Delhi Capitals to the playoffs in consecutive seasons in IPL 2019 and IPL 2020 and was a consistent run-scorer at the top of the order as well.

KKR has built a strong core already by buying Nitish Rana and Iyer, and they opted to bring back Pat Cummins as well for 7.25 Crore along with their four retentions ahead of the mega auctions. A solid Indian top order with a strong overseas contingent in the middle order makes KKR one of the excellent sides already.

Two solid options for captaincy: KKR CEO

KKR are yet to name their captain ahead of IPL 2022 and bringing in Shreyas Iyer and Pat Cummins have given the side two options to go for the leadership role. Cummins recently led Australia in the Ashes and managed to win his first series 4-0 comfortably. Meanwhile after splashing money on Shreyas Iyer, KKR CEO noted that he has been looked at as a long time option and was happy to have the services of Iyer and Cummins on the side.

“Shreyas, a quality Indian player at the top of the order is very very long term in terms of our thinking. So, that’s fantastic and am very delighted. As far as captaincy is concerned, that’s a decision that the coach and the think tank will take. We need to digest all the activities of today and tomorrow. But certainly, between Cummins and Shreyas, you have got two solid options for us,” KKR CEO Venky Mysore said in the press conference.

KKR earlier opted to retain the likes of Venkatesh Iyer, Varun Chakravarthy, Andre Russell and Sunil Narine ahead of the mega auction and Brendon McCullum, the head coach has done a great job in his short stint. The franchise reached the finals of IPL 2021 and was unfortunate to lose the title to the Chennai Super Kings.