Australia’s T20 World Cup-winning captain, Aaron Finch, has suggested Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) release their highest-priced player, Venkatesh Iyer, ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. He also mentioned Andre Russell in the list of players KKR should release as well.

Venkatesh Iyer, 30, who played two ODIs and nine T20Is for Team India in the 2021-22 season, was signed for Rs 23.75 crore by the Kolkata-based franchise in the IPL 2025 mega auction, but he failed to justify the price in the world's wealthiest franchise cricket competition this year. Venkatesh played 11 IPL 2025 matches for the Shah Rukh Khan-owned franchise, scoring only 142 runs.

On the other hand, Andre Russell has been with KKR since 2014. KKR retained him for INR 12 crores ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. He played 13 league matches in IPL 2025 and scored 167 runs in 10 innings in addition to taking eight wickets.

During a discussion on Star Sports, Finch was asked to name players that KKR should release before the auction and shared the names of Venkatesh Iyer and Andre Russell.

“Rs 23.75 crore—it’s too high for a player that they (KKR) bought as an opening batter but then used in the middle. Didn’t really bowl him all that much. That’s way too much to pay for a player playing out of position.

I will release, but I think you could get a great trade, but we know that they are not going to do that and never release Dre Russ,” Finch stated on Star Sports.  

If reports are to be believed, then KKR will release Venkatesh along with Moeen Ali, Anrich Nortje, and De Kock ahead of the IPL 2026 auction.