Venkatesh Iyer gets sold to RCB for a massive pay cut from ₹23.75 cr in IPL 2026 auction

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have signed India all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer for ₹7 crore at the ongoing IPL 2026 auction. The event is being held on Tuesday, December 16, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

At the IPL 2025 mega auction, the Madhya Pradesh cricketer was snapped up by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for a hefty ₹23.75 crore. However, he endured a disappointing campaign, managing just 142 runs in seven innings at an average of 20.28 and a strike rate of 139.21, with only one half-century to his name. He was subsequently released by the franchise.

During the 2026 auction, KKR did attempt to re-sign their former player, but it was Rajat Patidar-led RCB who eventually won the bidding war to secure his services. The move marked a 70.5% pay cut for the 30-year-old, with his price dropping from ₹23.75 crore to ₹7 crore. Notably, Iyer also became RCB’s first signing of the auction.

A look at Venkatesh Iyer’s record in the IPL

With Venkatesh Iyer being picked up by Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the IPL 2026 auction, the upcoming season will mark the first time the India all-rounder represents a franchise other than Kolkata Knight Riders in the competition’s history. Since making his debut in the 2021 season, Iyer had been a regular for KKR until the 2025 edition.

Across five seasons with the franchise, Venkatesh Iyer featured in 62 matches, scoring 1,468 runs in 56 innings at an average of 29.95 and a strike rate of 137.32. His tally included 12 half-centuries and one century, with a best score of 104. With the ball, Iyer chipped in with three wickets in nine innings.

His most productive campaign with the bat came in the 2023 season, when he amassed 404 runs in 14 innings at an average of 28.85 and a strike rate of 145.84, registering two fifties and a century. Iyer was also part of KKR’s title-winning squad in 2024, led by Shreyas Iyer.

Edited by Dev Sharma