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Venkatesh Iyer will join Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for IPL 2026 after being bought by the defending champions for ₹7 crore during the mini-auction in Abu Dhabi. The bidding for Venkatesh saw initial interest from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Gujarat Titans, before RCB and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) also entered the fray. After KKR pulled out with a bid of ₹6.80 crore, RCB successfully secured the all-rounder’s services. Venkatesh will now team up with his Madhya Pradesh teammate and RCB captain Rajat Patidar.
RCB made history earlier this year by winning their first-ever IPL title, defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) in a thrilling final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The franchise opted to retain key players such as franchise legend Virat Kohli and reliable middle-order batter Rajat Patidar.
In addition, RCB bolstered their squad by strengthening their bowling and all-rounder options, ensuring a well-rounded team for the 2026 season. With these moves, RCB aims to build on their success and remain a dominant force in IPL 2026.
| Players bought by RCB in IPL 2026 Auction | ||||
| Sr. No. | Player | Base Price | Winning Bid | Capped/Uncapped |
| 1 | Venkatesh Iyer | ₹2,00,00,000.00 | ₹7,00,00,000.00 | Capped |
| 2 | Mangesh Yadav | ₹30,00,000.00 | ₹5,20,00,000.00 | Uncapped |
| 3 | Jacob Duffy | ₹2,00,00,000.00 | ₹2,00,00,000.00 | Capped |
| 4 | Jordan Cox | ₹75,00,000.00 | ₹75,00,000.00 | Capped |
| 5 | Kanishk Chouhan | ₹30,00,000.00 | ₹30,00,000.00 | Uncapped |
| 6 | Vihaan Malhotra | ₹30,00,000.00 | ₹30,00,000.00 | Uncapped |
| 7 | Vicky Ostwal | ₹30,00,000.00 | ₹30,00,000.00 | Uncapped |
| 8 | Satvik Deswal | ₹30,00,000.00 | ₹30,00,000.00 | Uncapped |
| Players retained by RCB ahead of IPL 2026 auction | |||
| Player | Type | Base Price (INR Cr) | Sold Price (INR Cr) |
| Virat Kohli | BAT | - | 21 |
| Josh Hazlewood | BOWL | 2 | 12.5 |
| Phil Salt | BAT | 2 | 11.5 |
| Rajat Patidar | BAT | - | 11 |
| Jitesh Sharma | BAT | 1 | 11 |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | BOWL | 2 | 10.75 |
| Rasikh Salam | BOWL | 0.3 | 6 |
| Krunal Pandya | AR | 2 | 5.75 |
| Yash Dayal | BOWL | - | 5 |
| Tim David | AR | 2 | 3 |
| Suyash Sharma | BOWL | 0.3 | 2.6 |
| Jacob Bethell | AR | 1.25 | 2.6 |
| Devdutt Padikkal | BAT | 2 | 2 |
| Nuwan Thushara | BOWL | 0.75 | 1.6 |
| Romario Shepherd | AR | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| Swapnil Singh | AR | 0.3 | 0.5 |
| Abhinandan Singh | BOWL | 0.3 | 0.3 |
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