New Delhi, Dec. 16 -- Released by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) after being bought for a whopping Rs.23.75 crores in the previous auction, Madhya Pradesh all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer struck a timely half-century in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament on Tuesday.

Opening the innings, Iyer's 70 off just 43 balls, studded with eight fours and two sixes, helped Madhya Pradesh reach 225/8 despite a middle order collapse against Punjab in an Elite Super League Group A clash at the DY Patil Academy in Ambi, Pune.

The timing of the knock is significant as Iyer's fifty-plus score came just hours before the auction in Abu Dhabi, thus sending a reminder to all the franchises for a need of an all-rounder.

Iyer made his IPL debut in 2021 Dubai ...