Venkatesh Iyer was Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s costliest buy at ₹7 crore in the IPL mini auction ahead of the 2026 edition. However, he has seen limited action this season.
As of midday Tuesday, Iyer has played just one out of RCB’s seven games. He was utilized as an Impact Player during the match against Gujarat Titans.
In that game, he scored a modest 12 runs off 15 balls. This marks a stark contrast to his earlier performances.
Iyer made his IPL debut in 2021 with Kolkata Knight Riders. In his debut season, he scored 370 runs from 10 games.
In the previous season of 2023, he improved his performance with 404 runs from 14 matches, boasting a strike rate of 145.84.
This season, observers note that RCB sent him in at number 9 against Gujarat Titans. His only notable contribution was a partnership with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, where they added 29 runs off 30 balls.
Iyer remains optimistic about his role on the team. “You can get anything done out of me for the team,” he stated recently.
The limited playtime raises questions about whether RCB will adjust its strategy moving forward. Fans are eager to see if Iyer will receive more opportunities in upcoming matches.
The next challenge for RCB will be crucial as they aim to improve their standings in the league.
