The IPL 2025 auction saw all the teams splashing crores to set up their teams ahead of the IPL 2025 campaign. Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders too splashed money as they tried to form a competitive squad capable of defending their title.

Venkatesh Iyer became KKR's most expensive buy in the IPL 2025 mega auction as the defending champion acquired him for a whopping 23.75 crore. KKR fend off interests from RCB and Lucknow Super Giants to secure a deal for the 29 year old. It remains to be seen whether he justifies his price tag in IPL next season but the Indian cricketer has prioritised education over cricket for the time being.

Venkatesh who already holds an MBA in finance recently divulged that he is pursuing a PhD. In an interaction with Indian Express, the KKR all rounder said, “I want cricketers to educate themselves not just with cricketing knowledge, but general knowledge as well. If you can complete your graduation or post-graduation, you definitely should. I am pursuing my PhD (finance) now. You will be interviewing me as Dr Venkatesh Iyer next time!"

“I come from an orthodox family, so it is tough to convince middle-class parents that I will pursue only cricket. But it was the other way around. I was big on academics. My parents wanted me to do well in the game as well."

He further added, “If a new guy walks into the MP (Madhya Pradesh) team, the first thing I ask him is ‘Padhai kar rahe ho ki nahi?’ (are you studying or not?). Education will stay with you till you die, a cricketer cannot play till 60. You have to understand that there is a shelf life. After that, if you want to really excel in life, you have to be educated."

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