3 reasons why RCB snapping up Venkatesh Iyer at IPL 2026 Auction is a smart move

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) acquired batting all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer at the IPL 2026 auction. The auction took place on Tuesday, December 16, in Abu Dhabi.

Venkatesh Iyer was roped in by RCB for ₹7 crore. He was released by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) after the 2025 season. While he did not have a great performance in the last IPL, he gave a glimpse of his abilities in the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025-26 clash for Madhya Pradesh against Punjab, smashing a 43-ball 70 at a strike rate of 162.79.

The 30-year-old brings experience to the table, having featured in 145 T20s. He has scored 3249 runs at an average of 34.56 and a strike rate of 139.08 with a hundred and 19 half-centuries.

That said, here are three reasons why RCB snapping up Venkatesh Iyer at the IPL 2026 auction was a smart move.

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#3 Upgrade on Devdutt Padikkal at number three

Being a left-hander, Venkatesh Iyer comes in as a solid upgrade over Devdutt Padikkal at number three. Padikkal had an impressive season last year, where he scored 247 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 150.60. However, he has a career strike rate of 138.79 at number three in the IPL.

On the other hand, Venkatesh has a career strike rate of 168.77 at number three in the IPL. He is also well equipped to play and attack spinners in the middle as compared to Padikkal, making him a perfect number three option.

That said, if RCB do choose to start with Padikkal, Venkatesh remains a solid backup option who can walk into the team at any point in time.

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#2 Brings flexibility in the batting order

Venkatesh Iyer brings a lot of flexibility to their batting order. He can bat anywhere from positions one to six in the line-up. He has even opened the batting, batted at three, four, five, and six in the IPL previously.

He is currently opening the batting for Madhya Pradesh in SMAT 2025-26. Therefore, he can be used anywhere in the order as a floater according to the need and situation.

Moreover, Padikkal and Krunal were the only left-handed batters in their playing XI last season. Venkatesh coming in also gives them more left-handed options in the batting, along with the flexibility he brings.

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#1 Venkatesh Iyer's inclusion allows RCB to play an extra overseas batter

Venkatesh Iyer is a medium-pace bowling all-rounder. While he has not bowled a lot in the IPL, he has been bowling regularly for Madhya Pradesh in the domestic T20 league, that too under Rajat Patidar's captaincy. He has bowled 19 overs so far and has bagged six wickets at an average of 26.16 and an economy of 8.26.

Given that he can chip in with a couple of overs when needed as the sixth bowler for RCB, it would give them that extra option of a bowler in the mix. Moreover, it will also give them flexibility with regard to the team combination.

With Venkatesh Iyer bowling a couple of overs, they can afford to even drop Romario Shepherd and play an extra overseas batter like Jordon Cox or Jacob Bethell if needed.