The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) were particularly interested in getting Venkatesh Iyer’s services ahead of the IPL 2025. However, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) eventually retained him for a staggering INR 23.75 crore. The Madhya Pradesh all-rounder was released by the Knights following a dismal season for the three-time IPL champions in 2025. This presented another opportunity for the RCB to sign the southpaw during the IPL 2026 mini-auction, which they did for INR 7 crore.
Devdutt Padikkal was one of the top performers for RCB last season, starting at number three. He scored 247 runs in ten matches at a strike rate of 150.60. He struck two fifties that season before injury kept him out towards the end. With Venkatesh on board, the competition for the third spot in RCB’s batting order will be intense during IPL 2026. Padikkal, though, is not too worried and wants both to play significant roles for the defending champions in the upcoming season.
“Of course, if you are playing in the IPL, you are always bound to have competition. Venky is a great player and I have played a lot of matches with and against him. I am looking forward to having him in the side. Hopefully, we both can contribute to the team’s success,” he said on InsideSport’s YouTube channel.
Devdutt Padikkal has been in fine form at the domestic level this season. He is the highest run-getter in Vijay Hazare Trophy however, with 721 runs from just eight innings at an average of 103 and a strike rate of 100.27. In all, the Karnataka batsman has scored four hundreds and two fifties.
On Monday, January 12, Padikkal scored an unbeaten 81 from 95 balls against Mumbai in the first quarter-final at Bengaluru’s BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground-1. Karnataka eventually won the match by 55 runs via the VJD method and made its way into the semi-final.
