Venkatesh Iyer not guaranteed RCB XI spot despite Rs 7 crore buy: Anil Kumble

Former India captain Anil Kumble has suggested that Venkatesh Iyer may not be a guaranteed starter in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s playing XI, despite the franchise spending Rs 7 crore to acquire the all-rounder at the IPL mini-auction.

Iyer, who was released by Kolkata Knight Riders following an underwhelming IPL 2025 season, entered the auction in Abu Dhabi where RCB engaged in a bidding battle with his former side. The defending champions eventually secured him for Rs 7 crore, making him their most expensive purchase of the auction.

Speaking on JioStar, Kumble said RCB would be cautious about making changes to a settled, title-winning combination. According to him, the franchise would prioritise stability over reputation when finalising their starting XI.

“Venkatesh Iyer will not be in the playing eleven at the start. You do not want to create doubt in a winning team,” Kumble said, explaining that RCB avoided certain high-profile buys to ensure existing players did not feel under threat.

Kumble added that RCB were pleased to land Iyer after initially expecting to be outbid, but that does not necessarily translate into an immediate spot in the side.

Iyer has featured in 62 IPL matches, scoring 1,468 runs with one century and 12 half-centuries, all for KKR. However, his last season proved difficult, as he managed just 142 runs in 11 matches at an average of 20.29, prompting his release despite being a high-value pick in the previous mega auction.

Kumble also praised RCB’s broader auction strategy, noting that the franchise retained the core of its championship-winning squad while adding selective backups. He pointed to the inclusion of Jacob Duffy as cover for Josh Hazlewood, Jordan Cox as a like-for-like option for Phil Salt, and young left-arm seamer Mangesh Yadav as depth in the pace department.

RCB picked up eight players in total at the IPL 2026 mini-auction, focusing on squad balance rather than wholesale changes.