Venkatesh Iyer was bought by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for ₹7 crore in the IPL mini auction but former captain Anil Kumble said that the pace-bowling all-rounder may not find a place in their playing XI in the initial phase of the lucrative T20 league.

Earlier this month, RCB were involved in a bidding war with Iyer’s former side Kolkata Knight Riders before securing his service.

Defending champions RCB bolstered their squad by securing Iyer, Jacob Duffy and Mangesh Yadav, among others during the auction held on December 16 in Abu Dhabi.

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“Venkatesh Iyer will not be in the playing eleven at the start. You do not want to create doubt in a winning team. That is probably why they did not go after a Ravi Bishnoi, so that Suyash Sharma does not feel threatened by a senior India spinner,” JioStar expert Kumble said.

“RCB thought they might get outbid, but they did not, so they are happy to have Venkatesh Iyer.” Kumble, who captained RCB to the 2009 IPL final and became it chief mentor in 2011, said the franchise did well to keep the core of the IPL winning team.

“They (RCB) have done well to keep the core the same, back their players, and just have a few backups in case something goes wrong.

“Jacob Duffy will be a backup for Josh Hazlewood, and Jordan Cox is a like-for-like replacement for Phil Salt. Mangesh Yadav comes in as a backup for Yash Dayal. He is a left-arm seamer with a lot of potential, though he has not played much cricket.” Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar also said there could be a question mark on whether Iyer will be in the RCB playing XI straightaway.

“Venkatesh Iyer had a lot of eyes on him since last season. He has been consistent and you can see his confidence. Dinesh Karthik, the batting coach, and Malolan Rangarajan, who scouts talent for RCB, have a good option in him.

“Will he be in the playing eleven right away? There is some doubt, as this is a settled team. They wanted left-handers and got them. They can adjust Venkatesh in the eleven, like they did with Krunal Pandya last season. Krunal played well, so the lack of a top spinner was not felt. Suyash Sharma had a good season.”

Head coach Andy Flower expressed his happiness at acquiring Iyer for RCB.

“Venkatesh Iyer has strong leadership qualities. That is great to have in the dressing room and on the field. We are happy to get him and I look forward to working with him. When you plan well and have a good strategy, you know your limits.

“I think KKR had a little extra money left in their purse after purchasing Cameron Green. They were probably betting some of it on Venkatesh Iyer because they had some money left, but in the end, we ended up acquiring Venkatesh and we are really happy with it.”

Punjab Kings’ latest recruit Australian all-rounder Cooper Connolly prides himself on being versatile and is open to batting at any position the team deems fit in his maiden IPL season next year.

Known for his aggressive batting, sharp fielding and handy left-arm spin, Connolly was snapped up by Punjab Kings for ₹3 crore at the mini-auction earlier this month.

“I like to model my game on being able to be versatile in any position. So whether that’s at three, whether that’s in the middle, I’m happy to perform any role,” Connolly said at a virtual media interaction on Monday (December 22, 2025).

The 22-year-old has been in sensational form for Perth Scorchers, scoring two blistering fifties, in the ongoing Big Bash League batting at No. 3.

However, Punjab Kings are particularly keen on his ability to finish games and handle high-pressure situations, as highlighted by skipper Shreyas Iyer post the auction.

“I feel like I’m still learning the role at number three for the (Perth) Scorchers. It’s a role I enjoy. But if the role in the IPL is different, that’s totally understandable because it’s a world class team.

“To just be in the middle order would be sort of a nice opportunity just to sort of knuckle down and get to work in the middle order,” he added.

Connolly has quickly established himself as one of the most promising young talents in Australian cricket. He made his T20I and ODI debuts in September last year before earning his Baggy Green in January.

The Western Australian also impressed during the ODI series against India, producing a calm, match-winning knock under pressure.

Reflecting on his rapid rise over the past three years, Connolly said adapting to the demands of international cricket has been crucial.

“I think over the last three years, it’s been about understanding how different the international level is. It’s about adjusting to that, understanding how bowlers are trying to get me out more and how I can counter that.”

“I’ve had to earn the right to be in the Australian set-up. So it’s about learning from guys like Travis Head, Steve Smith, how they go about it and how they sort of train to all those standards.” “I’m just trying to tweak my game slowly and add more strings to it as I move forward.”

Connolly also said he is looking forward to working closely with Australia’s World Cup-winning captain Ricky Ponting, who is the head coach of Punjab Kings.

“I’ve heard a lot of good things about him. I haven’t done a lot of work with him just yet. So, I’m looking forward to spending some time with him and sort of doing some tweaks to my batting and seeing what his thoughts are on it.” He is also looking forward to face some of the best bowlers in the world at the IPL.

“Everyone goes to this tournament (IPL) because it’s probably going to be the most competitive. And also looking forward to getting over there and challenging myself against some of the best bowlers in the world.”

Aware that IPL conditions will be vastly different from the fast, bouncy pitches of Australia, Connolly said adapting to spin would be a big challenge.

“Yeah, it’s very different to Australia. We’ve obviously got some fast, bouncy wickets. But that challenge of playing spin is a challenge that is tough for everyone.

“So, it’s just about picking the brains of people that have done it for a long period of time and understanding how they go about it, I guess, add their method into my game and see how I can sort of play in those spinning conditions.

The Etihad Arena — adjacent to the picturesque Yas Marina Formula One circuit — was illuminated by football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo’s presence only last week.

On Tuesday (December 16, 2025), the iconic venue will once again be at the centre of global sporting attention when franchises splurge lakhs and crores at the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) Player Auction.

Since the IPL’s inception in 2008, the auction has evolved into a spectacle that is followed as keenly as — if not more than — the two-and-a-half months of on-field action that follows in the Indian summer.

Despite divided opinion on whether the auction has lost some of its sheen with stalwarts like Andre Russell, Glenn Maxwell and Faf du Plessis either retiring from or opting out of the league, anticipation has been palpable ever since franchise think-tanks began arriving in the United Arab Emirates over the past few days.

Cameron Green is expected to be one of the costliest buys, particularly after the Australia all-rounder confirmed his availability to bowl despite being listed as a batter in the opening set.

Sri Lanka pacer Matheesha Pathirana, who was released by Chennai Super Kings, could also trigger a bidding war, notwithstanding concerns over his fitness.

Among Indian players, Venkatesh Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi — both released after commanding hefty sums last season — will be hoping to inch closer to their previous pay cheques of ₹23.75 crore and ₹11 crore, respectively.

While Mumbai Indians, with the smallest purse (₹2.75 crore), and Punjab Kings, with the fewest slots to fill (four), are likely to play a relatively subdued role, the spotlight is expected to remain on Kolkata Knight Riders and CSK.

Together, the two franchises account for more than 40% of the total auction purse and have opted for significant overhauls after underwhelming IPL 2025 campaigns.

Both could target Green and Venkatesh, though their choices among overseas pacers will be closely watched. CSK, meanwhile, is also in the market for a proven Indian spinner.

Another intriguing subplot is whether Prithvi Shaw finds a second lease of life after going unsold at last year’s mega auction. Shaw is understood to have reached out to multiple franchises, with team owners weighing the balance between his undeniable talent and disciplinary concerns.

Most franchise representatives will participate via teleconference, with Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer set to be the most prominent player present inside the auction room.

Australia all-rounder Cameron Green on Sunday (December 14, 2025) clarified that he well be available to bowl in the IPL saying a “stuff-up” by his manager led to him being mistakenly registered as a batter for next week’s mini auction.

The 26-year-old, who miss the 2025 IPL season as he recovered from back surgery, return to international cricket as a specialist batter in June. However, he has since been cleared to bowl and has been rolling his arm in the ongoing Ashes series between Australia and England.

“I’ll be good to bowl. I don’t know if my manager would like to hear this, but there was a stuff-up on his end,” Green was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.

“He didn’t mean to say ‘batter’. I think he accidentally selected the wrong box. It was pretty funny how it’s all played out, but it was actually a stuff-up on his end.

The lanky all-rounder, who previously represented Mumbai Indians in 2023 and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2024, is among the biggest names in the auction and is likely to be in the highest demand..

Green has entered the auction with a base price of Rs 2 crore. He has been listed under the batters’ category instead of the all-rounders’ lot.

The auction take place in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday (December 16, 2025).

“I’m sure I will be (watching), with a few other guys. They’re always good fun to watch. It’s a bit of a lottery where you might go, but also who might be in your team, so it’s always been fun to watch,” he added.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Friday (November 14, 2025) announced the appointment of former New Zealand pacer and skipper Tim Southee as its bowling coach for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League.

An accomplished fast bowler, Southee served New Zealand for over 15 years. Playing in 107 Test matches, 161 ODIs and 126 T20Is, he claimed 776 international wickets.

He was part of the Kiwis’ side that won the 2021 ICC World Test Championship.

“KKR has always felt like home to me, and it’s an honour to return in this new role. The franchise has an incredible culture, passionate fans and a great group of players. I look forward to working

closely with the bowlers and helping the team achieve success in IPL 2026,” said Southee, who donned KKR colours from 2021 to 2023.

Venky Mysore, CEO of KKR, said, “Tim’s vast experience and technical expertise will be instrumental in shaping our bowling unit. His leadership qualities and calm approach make him an ideal mentor for our young bowlers.”

Abhishek Nayar will replace Chandrakant Pandit as the head coach of Kolkata Knight Riders, the three-time champion side announced on Thursday.

Nayar, who has worked closely with the franchise as a support staff and a mentor to young talent at its academy, has been part of the KKR family since 2018. He also served as an assistant coach with the Indian team last year.

“Abhishek’s understanding of the game and connection with players have been key to our growth. We’re thrilled to see him take over as the head coach,” said KKR CEO Venky Mysore.