India's all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer stole the spotlight during the IPL 2025 auction when the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) spent an astounding INR 23.75 crore to bring him back into the team. Iyer, who has been an integral part of the KKR lineup, is also making strides off the field, as he recently revealed he is pursuing a PhD in finance and plans to have the "Dr." prefix before his name by the start of the IPL.

Coming from a family that values academics, Iyer has always believed in balancing both cricket and education. "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," Iyer shared with The Indian Express.

Iyer is a strong advocate for education, especially among cricketers, and makes sure to encourage young players to prioritize their studies. "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," he said, explaining the value education holds in shaping a person’s future beyond sports

Discussing how academics provide him a mental break from the pressures of the game, Iyer added, "I don’t want to be thinking of the game all the time, it adds pressure. If I can do two things at the same time, I will. Being an educated person helps me make better decisions on the field as well."

Iyer's educational pursuits are now taking him toward a doctorate degree in finance, and he expressed his excitement about what’s to come:

"I am pursuing my PhD (finance) now. You will be interviewing me as Dr. Venkatesh Iyer next time."