The Release Of Venkatesh Iyer Is A Trademark Abhishek Nayar Move Because He Always Wants To Start Fresh : Saba Karim

While three-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders head into the TATA IPL 2026 Auction looking to empty their bags significantly with bold calls under new Head Coach Abhishek Nayar, Gujarat Titans adopt their signature calm approach under Ashish Nehra and Parthiv Patel. Speaking on the ‘TATA IPL Holding Show’, JioStar expert Saba Karim analyzed KKR’s strategic divestment, predicted Iyer’s buyback, outlined key auction needs and praised GT’s cohesive team-building mentality.

Speaking on the ‘TATA IPL Retention Show’, JioStar pundit Saba Karim analyzed KKR’s decision to release Venkatesh Iyer, “There is a strong possibility that KKR will buy him back. He was released for 23 crore, which freed up a huge amount in their wallets and now there is a high chance that he will not go for that much money in the mini auction. This is a trademark move of Abhishek Nayar because he always wants to make a fresh start. He just keeps the players.” “It’s holding.” I think it’s part of a winning combination and will buy the rest back at auction. I have always seen Abhishek Nayar working like this. So I think KKR management believes that perhaps he has exhausted his usefulness, similar to how they have valued Andre Russell over the years.

Regarding KKR’s needs in the auction, Saba Karim explained their conditions as follows: “They did not keep Rahmanullah Gurbaz. This means they need an opening batsman. If that player can also be a goalkeeper, it will be good for KKR. They will have many options in the auction. They also need an explosive strong hitter for the lower middle order. I think filling these two spots will be the most important thing for KKR in the next auction.”

On Gujarat Titans taking a calm approach in the upcoming auction, he said, “GT are a cool side. You can expect them to remain the same even in the auction. They are taking things lightly. The preparation of Ashish Nehra as head coach and Parthiv Patel as assistant and batting coach is excellent. I am sure they are keeping things very easy and that is the impression they will bring to the auction. They might have to fill a few holes, but overall I don’t think they intend to change their entire squad.”