“DK was non-committal about it” - Abhinav Mukund’s massive statement on RCB’s star signing at IPL 2026 auction

Former India batter Abhinav Mukund made a massive statement on Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) star signing, Venkatesh Iyer, at the IPL 2026 auction. The auction took place on Tuesday, December 16, in Abu Dhabi.

The defending champions acquired Venkatesh Iyer for ₹7 crore. He comes in as a quality left-handed top-order batter in the side. However, there will be some conundrum with Devdutt Padikkal already in the mix. Mukund revealed RCB batting coach Dinesh Karthik being non-committal about Venkatesh starting in the playing XI.

The former batter highlighted how Padikkal performed well in IPL 2025 and has been in great form throughout the year, as compared to Venkatesh. Further, Mukund believed that the 30-year-old must not start in their playing 11.

"DK was on our show and we asked him if Venkatesh will start in the XI and DK was non-committal about it. He said Padikkal has been in terrific form. Last year, Venkatesh's stocks were much higher than Padikkal but if you look at it now, Devdutt has had a phenomenal last year. I don't think Venkatesh starts and he should not also. They have had great success with the top seven," he said on ESPN Cricinfo.

Padikkal played a major role in RCB's title-winning run in IPL 2025. He played only 10 games due to injury, but scored 247 runs at a strike rate of 150.60. The left-hander has been in fabulous form in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025-26. He has scored 309 runs from six games at an average of 61.80 and a strike rate of 167.02 with a hundred and two half-centuries.

Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar highlighted an area of concern that he believed RCB did not quite address at the IPL 2026 auction. He reflected on how their spin department was a slight concern last season and expected that they would go for a strong backup leg-spinner. However, they did not do so and spent on Venkatesh Iyer, who Bangar felt may not even start in the playing 11.

"Spin is something that was a little bit of a question mark last season. You would have expected that when there was Bishnoi and Chahar, both of them were good picks. They had the purse as well. So why spend on a spot which they might not utilise?," he reflected.

However, he still picked Venkatesh as their best pick at the IPL 2026 auction, deeming him a quality backup option.

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Sanjay Bangar feels Rajasthan Royals (RR) are an improved squad from IPL 2025

Sanjay Bangar also reckoned that the Rajasthan Royals (RR) built an improved squad from last season after the IPL 2026 auction. RR had traded Sanju Samson to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) before the auction, in exchange for Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran.

At the auction, they roped in wrist-spinner Ravi Bishnoi. They lacked a quality Indian spinner last season and hence released both Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana.

"I think it is an improved squad from last year. It is more spread out now and they have quality in spin as well. Batting seems settled now that there is no traffic jam at the top, which means players will be settled, and it is a better bowling attack," he said.

RR acquired Ravi Bishnoi, Sushant Mishra, Yash Raj Punja, Vignesh Puthur, Ravi Singh, Aman Rao, Brijesh Sharma, Adam Milne, and Kuldeep Sen at the IPL 2026 auction.

Edited by Rishab Vm