Anil Kumble explains why RCB’s Rs 7 crore signing Venkatesh Iyer is likely to sit out of Playing XI

Anil Kumble feels RCB’s big-money signing Venkatesh Iyer might not feature regularly in their XI. The all-rounder, let go by KKR after IPL 2025, was picked up by the defending champions at the Abu Dhabi auction.

In the mini-auction, RCB clashed with KKR once again to secure the all-rounder’s signature. The IPL champions eventually bagged him for Rs 7 Crore, making him their top purchase of the event. Speaking to JioStar, Kumble said that RCB won’t want to disrupt the balance of a championship-winning squad.

“Venkatesh Iyer won’t feature in the starting XI initially. You don’t want to disturb the confidence of a winning side. That’s likely why they avoided signing someone like Ravi Bishnoi, so Suyash Sharma isn’t pressured by a senior India spinner,” Kumble told JioStar.

“RCB expected a bidding war but managed to secure Venkatesh Iyer, and they are pleased with the outcome.”

Venkatesh Iyer has featured in 62 IPL encounters, amassing 1,468 runs, including a century and 12 fifties for KKR. Bought for a whopping Rs 23.75 Crore in the mega auction, he struggled in IPL 2025, managing just 142 runs across 11 games at an average of 20.29.

Kumble praised RCB for maintaining the backbone of their team, retaining the majority of last season’s championship-winning lineup. The squad has been further strengthened with the additions of Jacob Duffy, Jordan Cox, and promising all-rounder Mangesh Yadav.

“RCB have done a good job retaining their core squad, supporting their key players, and adding a few backups for contingencies.”

“Jacob Duffy will serve as cover for Josh Hazlewood, while Jordan Cox replaces Phil Salt directly. Mangesh Yadav joins as a backup for Yash Dayal. He is a left-arm seamer with considerable potential, though he hasn’t played much competitive cricket,” Kumble concluded.

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