They Got Him at a Big Discount: AB de Villiers Lauds RCB for Venkatesh Iyer’s Signing Ahead of IPL 2026
AB de Villiers praises RCB for signing Venkatesh Iyer at a “big discount” in the IPL 2026 auction. Check his full analysis of RCB’s squad and new additions.
AB de Villiers Praises RCB for Venkatesh Iyer’s ‘Big Discount’ Signing Ahead of IPL 2026
The former South African captain AB de Villiers praised the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) a lot for the smart business they did at the IPL 2026 mini-auction, and above all he named the acquisition of the all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer for ₹7 crore. The star cricketer was let go by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) before the auction for having been unable to prove worth the enormous ₹23.75 crore price tag in IPL 2025. De Villiers was of the opinion that RCB had taken him at a very big discount.
The RCB idol while talking to his YouTube channel considered the franchise’s calmness at the auction as their positive point and further explained his reasoning by saying that they (RCB) as the defending champions did not make any uncalled for changes to their title-winning recipe. He did mention the team’s other main signings of Jordan Cox, Mangesh Yadav, and Jacob Duffy, but he thought a leg-spinner would be a good addition to the squad.
“There was no panic at the auction. They are the defending champions, and you don’t want to change the winning recipe. Jordan Cox is a good signing… Venki Iyer is the big signing. They got him at a very big discount,” De Villiers said.
He was particularly impressed with Mangesh Yadav, calling him a solid backup option for Yash Dayal, while Duffy adds depth in the fast-bowling department behind Josh Hazlewood. However, De Villiers noted a slight gap in the “X-factor spin department”.
“A wrist-spinner addition would have helped, but RCB still have a strong chance to defend the title,” he added.
RCB broke their long-standing title drought last season after defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) in a thrilling final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
What Role Will Venkatesh Iyer Play?
Venkatesh Iyer’s batting position will be one of RCB’s major tactical decisions for IPL 2026. While he was used primarily in the top order at KKR, his Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025 campaign saw him float between No. 5, No. 6, and eventually opening the innings in Madhya Pradesh’s last few games. His flexibility could give RCB new combinations to explore.
