Venkatesh Iyer’s salary dropped massively from ₹23.75 crore earned last year shockingly. Venkatesh brings batting and bowling skills to the squad setup.
Kolkata Knight Riders paid ₹23.75 crore for Venkatesh Iyer in the 2025 auction. That was one of the biggest prices paid that year. Now he goes for only ₹7 crore which is shocking. That’s a 70% drop in his market value within one year.
Venkatesh Iyer’s Dramatic IPL Price Drop in 2026
Royal Challengers Bengaluru bought for ₹7 crore at the auction. The all-rounder switches from the Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL team now. RCB won a fierce bidding battle against KKR for his services.
The IPL price crash reflects his inconsistent performances shown recently maybe. RCB still sees potential in getting him at a discount rate cleverly. KKR challenged them during bidding but stopped at a lower amount. The IPL team RCB secured a bargain deal here potentially if he performs.
His former team let him go without fighting too hard surprisingly.
Recent Form and Career Statistics
Venkatesh Iyer played the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26 recently for practice. He scored 141 runs from nine matches which isn’t spectacular honestly. His strike rate stood at 105.22 which is decent enough. Those domestic numbers didn’t justify his previous ₹23.75 crore tag.
His overall IPL career shows 1,468 runs from 62 matches played. Venkatesh averages 29.95 with a strike rate of 137.32 overall. Those statistics prove he’s capable of match-winning innings when form clicks. RCB hopes he rediscovers that explosive batting style again soon.
His bowling provides additional value giving the captain extra options during matches.
What RCB Expects in 2026
The IPL team needed versatile Indian all-rounders for their squad depth. Venkatesh Iyer fits that requirement perfectly despite recent struggles faced. His ability to open or bat in the middle order gives flexibility tactically. RCB can use him in multiple positions depending on the situation.
The amount of ₹7 crore seems a reasonable risk for an experienced player. If he bounces back strongly, this becomes a steal deal made.
