Chennai Super Kings legend Suresh Raina has predicted that Kolkata Knight Riders might part ways with star batter Venkatesh Iyer before the Indian Premier League 2026 auction.
KKR spent a massive INR23.75 crore to secure a move for Iyer at the 2025 mega auction. The southpaw became the team's highest-paid player in the IPL 2025 season, however, he failed to live up to the hype as he struggled with the bat.
Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source
Iyer's poor form impacted the team massively as they finished outside the top four, only a year after winning the title under Shreyas Iyer's leadership.
Raina felt that after a dismal 2025 campaign, KKR would bring wholesale changes to their squad, which includes the departure of Venkatesh Iyer.
READ: Kohli's Yo-Yo test availability unclear
KKR to release Venkatesh Iyer before IPL 2026 Auction?
Raina pointed out Iyer's lack of contribution to the team last season, despite being an important part of their batting until and predicted that KKR will undergo massive changes at the upcoming auction.
Speaking on Shubhankar Mishra's podcast on YouTube, the former India star said: "I think they (KKR) will release him (Venkatesh Iyer). They didn't give him enough chances and whenever he got a chance, he did not score many runs. When players make money, then I think the coach and the captain work hard to reach the play-offs. So I think we will see a lot of changes that will surprise many."
MORE: IPL 2026 rumours: Latest news on player trades and deals
Who can KKR buy in the IPL 2026 auction?
KKR have been linked with a move for wantaway Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson. The Kolkata-based franchise could go after the experienced wicket-keeper batter to replace Iyer in the squad next season.