"Can be a very good option to have there" - Sunil Gavaskar wants selectors to consider discarded all-rounder for England tour of 2025

Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has urged the selectors to consider all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer for India's Test tour of England in June-August 2025. Hosts England will face off against India in a five-match Test series, all set to kick off on June 20 at Headingley, Leeds, just five days after the conclusion of the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The remaining four fixtures will be played at Edgbaston in Birmingham, Lord's in London, Manchester's Emirates Old Trafford, and the Kennington Oval in London.

Meanwhile, Venkatesh Iyer had his maiden county stint with Lancashire in 2024, having represented them in both the One-Day Cup and the County Championship.

In the five One-Day Cup matches he featured for Lancashire, the 30-year-old scored 68 runs apart from picking up three wickets. Also, in the three County Championship Division One appearances, he amassed 116 runs.

Heaping praise on Iyer's all-round credentials, Sunil Gavaskar suggested the Indore-born player's name for India's 2025 England Test tour, given his county experience. Saying Iyer could be a 'very good option' to have in the squad, Gavaskar opined in his column for Sportstar (via the Times of India):

"India must also keep an eye on Venkatesh Iyer, who can be another fine all-rounder and is a left-hander to bat. His bowling too can do with some work, but he has played in England and can be a very good option to have there."

Venkatesh Iyer sold for a whopping ₹23.75 crore at the IPL 2025 auction

Defending IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders broke the bank at the IPL 2025 auction to acquire the services of Venkatesh Iyer for Season 18. The southpaw, who is also a useful right-arm medium bowler, was bought for a staggering ₹23.75 crore.

Having made his IPL debut for the Knight Riders in September 2021 against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Abu Dhabi, Iyer has so far turned out for the franchise in 50 matches. Apart from 1326 runs, he also has three IPL wickets under his belt.

In the 2023 IPL, Venkatesh Iyer became only the second KKR batter to score a century in the cash-rich league after Brendon McCullum (158 in the inaugural IPL game in 2008). It came up against the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.