RCB's Strategic Move: Signing Venkatesh Iyer Ahead of IPL 2026

A Smart Addition: Venkatesh Iyer

Mo Bobat, the director of cricket for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), expressed that acquiring a player like Venkatesh Iyer is an obvious choice that enhances the team's strength as they prepare for the IPL 2026 season.

Venkatesh Iyer, an Indian all-rounder who previously secured the IPL 2025 title with Kolkata Knight Riders, was acquired by RCB for ₹7 crore during the IPL 2026 auction. Despite his previous season being less than stellar, where he scored only 142 runs in seven innings with an average of 20.28, his experience is deemed invaluable.

Emphasizing Squad Depth and Competition

As the IPL 2026 approaches, Bobat noted that while no final selections have been made, bringing in a player of Iyer's caliber is essential. He stated, "We aim to create competition for positions. Adding someone of Venky's quality and experience is crucial for strengthening the squad. We will finalize our team as we near the first match, but our primary goal during the auction was to enhance our roster."

Bobat reiterated that while RCB has not yet determined their lineup, securing Iyer was a significant focus. He highlighted the importance of building a robust squad to encourage competition and achieve ambitious objectives, with final decisions on the lineup expected soon.

"We haven't finalized our selections yet, but attracting a player of his caliber to our franchise was a priority. We seek competition for places and are ambitious about our goals," he added. "Success comes from having a strong squad, not just 11 or 12 players. We will clarify our selection decisions in the coming days," Bobat concluded.

RCB's Title Defense Begins Soon

The defending champions, RCB, will commence their title defense against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 28 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.