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.

IPL 2026 auction Highlights

“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.”

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.