After being bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders for a massive ₹23.75 crore, Venkatesh Iyer struggled to deliver consistent performances. KKR eventually released him ahead of the 2026 mini auction. Royal Challengers Bangalore then showed faith in the all-rounder and picked him up for ₹7 crore. However, his poor form has already raised concerns for RCB, especially with the IPL approaching.
Venkatesh Iyer has failed to score runs in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy. Madhya Pradesh were knocked out of the tournament after a heavy loss to Punjab, and Iyer was leading the side as captain. His batting numbers in the competition have been disappointing. In eight matches, he scored only 176 runs at an average of 22. His highest score was 65, which came against Karnataka. Apart from that innings, his best effort was 34 runs in the opening match against Rajasthan.
Poor batting form worries RCB
The biggest worry came in the quarter-final, where Venkatesh Iyer was dismissed for a golden duck. Failing in a knockout match has further increased doubts over his form. Although he contributed with the ball, bowling in six of the eight matches and taking seven wickets, his primary role in recent IPL seasons has been as a batsman. He has rarely bowled in the IPL in the last few years, making his lack of runs a major concern for RCB.
Punjab dominate as MP crash out
In the quarter-final, Punjab put up a strong batting performance. Batting first, they scored 345 runs for six wickets. Openers Harnoor Singh and Prabhsimran Singh added 116 runs. Harnoor scored 51, while Prabhsimran went on to make 88. Anmolpreet Singh contributed 70 runs, and Nehal Wadhera added a quick 56.
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In the second innings, Madhya Pradesh collapsed badly. They were bowled out for just 162 runs in 31.2 overs. Captain Venkatesh Iyer failed to score, while Rajat Patidar was the top scorer with 38 runs.
