IPL: Venkatesh Iyer, portrait of a cricketer — with a PhD in finance

Fancy finding a PhD in finance among IPL cricketers!

It sounds absurd — unless you have met Venkatesh Iyer, the Kolkata Knight Riders’ all-rounder, the third highest-paid player in the last auction with a price tag of Rs 23.75 crore... who is now pursuing a doctorate in finance.

The 29-year-old Iyer, who belongs to a rare breed of highly educated cricketers in the current lot with an MBA to his name already, revealed this in a conversation with Indian Express a few days back. ‘’You’ll be interviewing me as Dr Venkatesh Iyer next time!’’ he said in jest. (Who else is in the same bracket, you ask? His KKR teammate Varun Chakravarthy is an erstwhile architect.)

Hailing from a middle class, orthodox family in Madhya Pradesh, Iyer — a frontrunner for the KKR captaincy for the 2025 season, along with veteran Ajinkya Rahane — feels education helps in making the right career choices.

“I come from an orthodox family, so it was tough to convince my parents I’d pursue only cricket. But I was big on academics too. Education will stay with you till you die; cricket won’t.”

Iyer, whose  journey in the IPL began in the peak Covid times with a modest salary of Rs 20 lakh, says the recent price tags hasn’t distracted him from his academic goals. He feels that education provides a mental respite from the pressures of professional sports.

“Academics give me the perfect switch-off from the game. If I can do two things at the same time, I will,” he says.

The buzz is that Iyer frequently encourages younger players in the Madhya Pradesh team to prioritise their studies as well. And he admits as much: “If a new guy joins the team, the first thing I ask is, ‘Are you studying?’ I want cricketers to educate themselves not just in cricket but also in general knowledge. It makes a difference in decision-making, both on and off the field.”

Once heralded as a potential alternative to Hardik Pandya in the white ball set-up because of the latter’s injury-prone body, Iyer feels pursuing a PhD is not just about academic achievement though — it is also to ensure financial literacy and security for the future.

“There will be a time when it’s not just about skill but about making the right decisions. Being educated helps with that,” he explains.

His fascination with finance stems from a desire to understand the business world, a skill he believes will benefit him after his cricketing career.

KKR’s decision to go all out for Iyer was influenced by his stellar performance in their previous championship-winning season, where he raked up 370 runs at an average of 46.25.

Despite the immense pressure of being one of the most expensive players in IPL history, Iyer’s focus on academics is a reminder that cricket stars are not just athletes but individuals with dreams and aspirations that transcend the sport.