RCB's Auction Choices Under Scrutiny After IPL 2025 Triumph
Josh Hazlewood's Impact and RCB's Auction Strategy
During the 2025 IPL mega auction, Josh Hazlewood emerged as a key player for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), leading the team in wickets and becoming their most costly acquisition at ₹12.50 crore. Initially, RCB faced criticism for their auction decisions, but following their IPL title victory, those choices are now being celebrated. Meanwhile, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) re-signed Venkatesh Iyer for ₹23.75 crore, although he fell short of expectations. RCB's head coach, Andy Flower, expressed that Iyer might have excelled had he joined their squad.
Coach Andy Flower's Thoughts on Venkatesh Iyer
“We really rated Venky highly, which is why we pursued him so aggressively. We aimed to build a strong Indian core and wanted some dynamic young talent, particularly a left-handed batsman in the top order. Unfortunately, we didn’t secure him. I believe if he had played for us, he would have had an outstanding season,” Flower stated during a press conference on June 3 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Venkatesh Iyer's Performance in IPL 2025
This season, KKR's vice-captain struggled significantly, accumulating only 142 runs across seven matches with an average of 20.29. His most notable performance was against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), and he scored 45 runs off 29 balls in a match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) despite KKR's loss. After suffering a hand injury, he missed the matches following a one-week break in IPL 2025, raising questions about his future with KKR. Should KKR decide to release him, RCB might consider re-acquiring him in the upcoming mini auction.
Devdutt Padikkal's Role and Replacement
Although Devdutt Padikkal was not selected in the initial round, RCB later picked him up for his base price of ₹2 crore. Over ten innings, he scored 247 runs at an average of 27.44, including two half-centuries, with a strike rate of 150.60. Unfortunately, a hamstring injury sidelined him during the latter part of IPL 2025. Mayank Agarwal stepped in as his replacement for ₹1 crore, participating in four matches, including the Qualifier 1 and the final.