File photo – Venkatesh Iyer (Image credit: BCCI/IPL) NEW DELHI: Venkatesh Iyer’s outing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Kerala at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad did not go as many expected. The moment the Madhya Pradesh all-rounder stepped into the middle, expectations were high that he would fire in his signature aggressive style. Instead, the left-hander endured a short stay at the crease and managed just eight runs before being run out by Krishna Prasad.Iyer’s dismissal came after a costly tangle with Himanshu Mantri while attempting a quick single, leaving him short of the crease. The early exit once again brought attention to the 30-year-old, who had been under scrutiny following the busy IPL auction cycle.
Manoj Babat speak.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru snapped up Iyer for Rs 7 crore in the IPL 2026 mini auction, a significant drop from the Rs 23.75 crore spent by Kolkata Knight Riders to retain him last season. However, the reduced price has not changed the perception of his ability, even though his role at RCB remains uncertain.Former India captain Anil Kumble feels the defending champions are unlikely to rush Iyer straight into the playing XI at the start of the season. According to Kumble, RCB want to maintain stability in an already established and successful side, which could mean that Iyer will have to wait for his opportunity.Former India all-rounder and JioStar pundit Sanjay Bangar echoed similar sentiments, acknowledging Iyer’s quality while pointing out the challenge of breaking into a well-built combination. “He has been consistent and you can see his confidence,” Bangar said, adding that RCB’s group of coaches and scouts see Iyer as a long-term investment. However, Bangar also admitted that there is uncertainty surrounding his immediate role. “Will he be in the eleven right away? There are certain doubts because it is a settled team,” he said.Iyer entered the auction with a base price of Rs 2 crore and attracted early interest from Lucknow Super Giants before Gujarat Titans and his former franchise KKR joined the bidding. RCB eventually proved successful and brought him to Bengaluru.In 56 IPL innings, Iyer has scored 1,468 runs at an average of 29.12, over 137, with one century and 12 half-centuries. However, his last IPL season was a difficult one, yielding only 142 runs in seven innings for KKR despite his high price tag.
