However, after the IPL 2025 mega auction, Royal Challengers Bengaluru faced severe criticism for their auction strategy, as they didn’t go for the big name, and their most expensive player was Australian speedster Josh Hazlewood. They had signed Hazlewood for INR 12.50 crore.
Read Also: RCB in trouble? Karnataka High Court takes strict action on Bengaluru stampede tragedy
Unfortunately, Iyer failed to justify the massive price tag for KKR in the IPL 2025. He scored only 142 runs in 11 matches for KKR at a meager average of 20.29 and a strike rate of 139.22. However, Flower boldly claimed that Venkatesh could’ve thrived in RCB colors.
He would have had a really great season with RCB: Andy Flower
Andy Flower had said at the post-match press conference after the final in Ahmedabad, “We really rated Venky (highly); that's why we went so hard for him. It was because we valued having a strong Indian core to our team. We wanted some exciting young cricketers and a left-hander in the top order. We didn't get him. I would like to think if he played for us, he would have had a really great season.”
— ᴅᴋ (@coach_dk19) June 5, 2025
RCB had to make do with Devdutt Padikkal and Mayank Agarwal after not getting Venkatesh Iyer
Notably, after not getting Iyer, RCB had signed Devdutt Padikkal at his base price of INR 2 crore. Padikkal had a decent season before a hamstring injury ruled him out of the latter phase of IPL 2025. He scored 247 runs from 10 innings at an average of 27.44, and the strike rate was 150.60.
Later, Mayank Agarwal replaced Padikkal for INR 1 crore. The Indian batter played four matches for RCB, including Qualifier 1 and the IPL 2025 final, and scored 95 runs at an average of 148.43 and a strike rate of 148.43.
Now, it will be interesting to see whether Royal Challengers Bengaluru will go for Iyer if KKR releases him ahead of the mini auction after a poor season for the IPL 2026.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Andy Flower claims KKR ruined Venkatesh Iyer: "He would've had a really great season..." )
Also on site :