Perhaps, this can be the season of Iyers in the IPL. 

PBKS's (Punjab Kings) new captain Shreyas Iyer has already stamped his authority in IPL 2025 with two swashbuckling innings. Now his former teammate at the KKR Venkatesh Iyer has joined the party.

After three barren matches, KKR's (Kolkata Knight Riders) vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer came to the party against his favourite SRH (Sunrisers Hyderabad) last night at the Eden Gardens. Venky, as he is called, smashed a blistering 60 off just 29 balls, including seven fours and three sixes, at an impressive strike rate of 206.90. His innings was instrumental in KKR posting a formidable total of 200/6, leading to an 80-run victory.

This was his 3rd fifty against SRH, and second on the trot as he scored a match-winning half-century in last year's finals which was when the two teams met last.

Going into the match, with 3 failures with the bat, there was immense pressure on Venky. But the man, who plays for Madhya Pradesh in domestic tournaments, went for the kill from the word go despite his team being in a less than comfortable position. His captain Ajinkya Rahane had just perished with nearly 10 overs to go. One false stroke from Venky could have derailed KKR.

But first with the talented youngster Angkrish Raghuvanshi and then with fellow swashbuckler Rinku Singh, Venky tonked the SRH bowling to all parts. By the time he fell in the last over, Kolkata had surged to 200 --- a more than par score in the conditions.  

This knock marked his third consecutive fifty against SRH, joining an elite list of players with such a feat. His previous scores against SRH include 51 (28) in the 2024 Qualifier 1 and 52 (26) in the 2024 final. Venky's aggressive batting has been crucial in setting up strong totals for KKR, especially in challenging conditions. His ability to adapt and accelerate has made him a valuable asset in the middle order. If he sustains this form, Venky can once again push KKR to new frontiers this year too.