Before IPL 2026, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) star all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer is in the news for a different reason. Amidst the struggle with the bat in domestic cricket, Venkatesh welcomed the New Year in a grand style, the video of which is now going viral on social media.

Venkatesh seen with DJ Chetas

After the match, Venkatesh Iyer attended the New Year party organized in Ahmedabad late on Wednesday night. Here famous DJ Chetas called him on the stage, where Venkatesh celebrated the New Year by having fun in front of the crowd. Fans are liking this style of Venkatesh amidst DJ tunes and lights. This moment was captured on camera, after which the video went viral on social media.

Team India’s visuals created a special atmosphere

This celebration was made more special by the video of Team India playing in the background. Scenes of India’s victory in the Champions Trophy 2025 were being shown on the big screen. During this, DJ Chetas mixed patriotic songs like ‘Teri Mitti’ and ‘Vande Mataram’, due to which a different enthusiasm was seen in the entire hall. This combination of cricket and patriotism completely changed the atmosphere of the party.

Struggle with the bat in Vijay Hazare Trophy

Venkatesh Iyer is leading Madhya Pradesh in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26. The team’s performance has been excellent and with four consecutive wins in four matches, it remains on top in the group. However, personally Venkatesh’s bat has remained silent till now. He could not play big innings in four matches, but he definitely left an impact with the ball. In the match against Tripura, he played an important role in the team’s victory by taking 4 wickets.

RCB bet for 7 crores

Kolkata Knight Riders surprised everyone by buying Venkatesh Iyer for IPL 2025 for Rs 23.75 crore. However, Iyer proved to be a super flop in that season itself. In the entire season, 31 year old Iyer had scored only 142 runs in 7 innings. During this period his strike rate was 139.31. After which KKR dropped him. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) bought him for Rs 7 crore in the IPL 2026 auction, but his Vijay Hazare Trophy form will definitely be worrying the team management. However, Venkatesh Iyer’s overall IPL record is not that bad. He has scored 1,468 runs so far in 56 innings.

Former Indian cricketer Anil Kumble has claimed that Venkatesh Iyer will not be able to make a place in the playing eleven of Royal Challengers Bangalore. Let us remind you that RCB had bought Iyer in the mini auction by bidding Rs 7 crore, but Kumble’s claim has created a sensation in the cricket world even before IPL 2026.

While discussing a show on Geo Star, Anil Kumble said that the plan of the RCB team was to maintain continuity within the team and not to make any sudden changes. Anil Kumble said, “Venkatesh Iyer will not get a chance in the playing eleven of RCB initially. You would not want to create doubt in a trophy-winning team.”

Kumble also talked about RCB’s auction strategy. He told that the franchise wants to show confidence in the young players. According to Kumble, RCB did not buy leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi so that no doubt arises in the mind of Suyyash Sharma who was already in the team.

Venkatesh Iyer was released by KKR before the IPL 2026 mini auction. By releasing him, KKR’s purse was emptied by Rs 23.75 crore. Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants had also shown interest in buying Venkatesh Iyer. Whereas Kolkata Knight Riders did not consider it right to bid more than Rs 6.80 crore for him. Finally RCB bought him with a bid of Rs 7 crore.

In his IPL career, Venkatesh Iyer has so far scored 1468 runs in 56 innings. His strike rate in IPL has been more than 137 and in this short career he has scored one century and 12 fifties. Iyer was a flop in IPL 2025, in which he was able to score only 142 runs in 7 innings.

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Venkatesh Iyer will play for any other IPL team other than Kolkata Knight Riders for the first time, although KKR had also bid on him in the auction but Royal Challengers Bangalore won that bid. Last year his salary for KKR was Rs 23.75 crore, but this time it is less than Rs 10 crore.

venkatesh iyer ipl 2026 price

Royal Challengers Bangalore has bought Venkatesh Iyer for Rs 7 crore. Iyer was with KKR since his IPL debut, but will now share the dressing room with Virat Kohli. Iyer’s base price was Rs 2 crore, although his salary is Rs 16.75 crore less than last year.

Venkatesh Iyer IPL Career

Venkatesh Iyer made his IPL debut for Kolkata Knight Riders in 2021. Since then he was a part of the KKR team. From 2021 to 2025, he played 62 matches for KKR, in which he scored 1468 runs with an average of 29.95. He has scored 1 century and 12 half-centuries in IPL. Apart from this, he also has 3 wickets in his name, but this time he will play for Royal Challengers Bangalore.

If we look at last year’s record, Venkatesh had scored 142 runs in 7 innings played in 11 matches for KKR, although the franchise could not utilize him well. He did not come up to bat, which was why he could score only one half-century in 2025.

Cameron Green created history

Australian batsman Cameron Green has now become the most expensive foreign player in IPL history, breaking the record of his own compatriot Mitchell Starc. Green was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 25.20 crore, his base price was Rs 2 crore.

The first player to be sold in the IPL 2026 auction was David Miller, who was bought by Delhi Capitals for his base price (Rs 2 crore). Wanindo Hasaranga was bought by Lucknow Super Giants for Rs 2 crore, Quinton de Kock was bought by Mumbai Indians for Rs 1 crore.

IPL 2026 auction is to be held today. This time there is a mini auction. This auction will be held in Abu Dhabi. You will be able to watch IPL 2026 auction live on both TV and mobile. Apart from this, you will get all the updates of IPL 2026 auction on abplive.com. Australian all-rounder Cameron Green can be sold the most expensive in this auction.

More than 350 players will be auctioned in the IPL 2026 auction. However, a maximum of 77 players can be sold in this. Kolkata Knight Riders have the most money in this auction. KKR has Rs 64 crore 30 lakh. KKR will be eyeing to revamp the team as the team has to buy around 13 players in the auction.

In this mini auction, all 10 teams will sit in the auction to be held in Abu Dhabi to buy a total of 77 players. In which a total amount of Rs 237 crore 55 lakh is available with all the teams. Mumbai Indians have the least money in the auction. MI has only Rs 2 crore 75 lakh.

Chennai Super Kings has more than Rs 43 crores

In the mini auction for IPL 2026, Kolkata Knight Riders have the biggest purse of Rs 64 crore 30 lakh. KKR’s eyes will be on revamping the team, because the team has to buy a total of 13 players in the auction. Knightriders may face a challenge from the Super Kings while bidding on players in this mini auction. Chennai has the second largest purse in the auction of Rs 43 crore 40 lakh. At the same time, Super Kings would also like to buy good players according to their team balance in the mini auction.

Eyes will be on these star players in IPL 2026 auction

Apart from Cameron Green, everyone’s eyes will be on star players like Venkatesh Iyer, Ravi Bishnoi, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Smith, Tim Seifert, Mathisha Pathirana, Sarfaraz Khan, Steve Smith and Prithvi Shaw in the IPL 2026 auction. In this, Venkatesh Iyer, Liam Livingstone, Ravi Bishnoi and Cameron Green can be sold for a huge amount. Former Australian captain Steve Smith remained unsold last season, but once again he has been shortlisted for the auction.

Lucknow Super Giants may consider buying England batsman all-rounder Liam Livingstone in the IPL 2026 auction. Former Indian batsman Mohammad Kaif believes that Livingstone can strengthen the team’s lower order batting.

The IPL 2026 auction will be held on Tuesday at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Lucknow has a purse of Rs 22.95 crore and the team needs six players, of which four will be foreign players.

David Miller has been released from the team before the auction. In such a situation, Lucknow’s biggest need is for a player who can fill the gap of Miller. According to Kaif, Liam Livingstone could be the most suitable choice for this role.

Geostar expert Kaif, in an exclusive conversation with IANS ahead of the mini auction, said, “Livingstone bats at number five or six and has the ability to hit big shots. He can also bowl. Even though his current form is not good, he has experience and his strike rate is much better. Lucknow already has foreign batsmen like Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh. So the team needs a strong finisher, who Could play at number five or six for Lucknow.

Talking about fast bowling, Lucknow’s fast bowling is already strong, in which the arrival of Mohammed Shami and Arjun Tendulkar has further strengthened the team. With this, options will also be available for injured players like Mohit Khan, Avesh Khan and Mayank Yadav.

Kaif believes that Lucknow should also take a foreign fast bowler. South Africa’s Enrique Norkia or Lungi Ngidi could be good options. He said that the ground of Lucknow is big and the red clay pitch can help a fast bowler like Nortje.

He said, “First of all, I pray and hope that Avesh Khan and Mayank Yadav are close to being fully fit, because it has been almost 5-6 months now. Lucknow will pray that they recover and come back to action. Now the second question is, who should they target? I think they need foreign fast bowlers. Enrique Norkia and Lungi Ngidi are options. Norkia can be an option because Lucknow The ground is big, square boundary, and has a red clay pitch, which can help them generate good bounce and pace, so they can target Norkia also, but as I said earlier, the injured players should be fit, and then choose either Norkia or Ngidi as an option.

In spin bowling, currently Digvesh Rathi is the main leg spinner of the team. There is a vacancy in this department after the release of Ravi Bishnoi. Kaif says that Bishnoi’s price could be very high in the auction, at which the Lucknow franchise might not want to buy.

He told that teams like Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings can make a big bid on Bishnoi. In such a situation, Lucknow will have to focus on cheap but new leg spinner or left arm spinner options. Digvesh Rathi has become the favorite bowler of captain Rishabh Pant, because he takes wickets in the powerplay and middle overs.

The live telecast of the IPL 2026 mini auction can be seen on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network from 2:30 pm on 16th December.

IPL 2026 Mini Auction: All eyes will be on Australian all-rounder Cameron Green in the mini auction for the Indian Premier League 2026 to be held at 2.30 pm today, December 16, 2025, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Due to lack of an excellent all-rounder (top in both batting and bowling) in this mini auction, a lot of money may be showered on Cameron Green. In the mini auction, Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings are looking for a great all-rounder and both those teams have the highest money in their purse.

How many players will be bought for IPL 2026?

In this mini auction, all 10 teams will sit in the auction to be held in Abu Dhabi to buy a total of 77 players. In which a total amount of Rs 237 crore 55 lakh is available with all the teams. However, Mumbai Indians will not have much role in this auction, because they have only Rs 2 crore 75 lakh. Mumbai Indians will enter the auction to buy some uncapped players at their base price.

Biggest purse near Kolkata and Chennai

In the mini auction for IPL 2026, Kolkata Knight Riders have the biggest purse of Rs 64 crore 30 lakh. KKR’s eyes will be on revamping the team, because the team has to buy a total of 13 players in the auction. Knightriders may face a challenge from the Super Kings while bidding on players in this mini auction. Chennai has the second largest purse in the auction of Rs 43 crore 40 lakh. At the same time, Super Kings would also like to buy good players according to their team balance in the mini auction.

Why is Mini Auction more interesting than Mega Auction?

Mini auctions are always more interesting than mega auctions because franchises come into the auction with certain preferences and are ready to go to any extent to add players with different skill sets to their team. In the IPL mini auction, big bids have always been made for fast bowlers who are also all-rounders, keeping this in mind, this time the biggest bids are expected for Cameron Green, Venkatesh Iyer and West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder.

Devon Conway remained unsold in the IPL 2026 auction. Whereas Kolkata Knight Riders made a bid of Rs 30.50 crore on Australian all-rounder Cameron Green and David Miller was bought by Delhi Capitals. In fact, before the auction to be held on 16th December, Star Sports conducted a mock auction, in which former Indian cricketers represented the IPL teams.

The mock auction conducted by Star Sports included Rajasthan Royals (Aakash Chopra), Lucknow Super Giants (Irfan Pathan), Delhi Capitals (Mohammed Kaif), Mumbai Indians (Abhinav Mukund), Chennai Super Kings (Suresh Raina), Punjab Kings (Sanjay Bangar), Kolkata Knight Riders (Robin Uthappa), Sunrisers Hyderabad (Subramaniam Badrinath), Gujarat Titans (Cheteshwar Pujara) and Royal Challengers Bangalore. Anil Kumble bid for Challengers Bangalore.

30.50 crores on Cameron Green

According to this mock auction, Cameron Green is going to become the most expensive player in IPL history. In the mock auction, there was a war between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders for Green. KKR has bought him for Rs 30.50 crore. If this happens in the real auction tomorrow, he will become the most expensive player in IPL history. Last year, in the mega auction, LSG had bought Rishabh Pant for Rs 27 crore.

How much was bid on Miller-Iyer

David Miller played for Lucknow Super Giants last season. This time in the mock auction, he was bought by Delhi Capitals for Rs 9.5 crore, while a bid of Rs 7 crore has been placed on Sarfaraz Khan, who has been included by CSK in their squad. Venkatesh Iyer, who was sold for Rs 23.75 crore in the mega auction, was released by KKR, but in the Star Sports mock auction, RCB representative Anil Kumble did not give up chasing Iyer and bought him with a bid of Rs 6 crore.

19 crores on Liam Livingstone

Liam Livingstone’s recent IPL statistics have not been very good, but in the mock auction, Lucknow Super Giants bid Rs 19 crore for him. CSK also bid up to Rs 18.50 crore for Livingstone, but LSG bought Livingstone with a final bid of Rs 19 crore. Akashdeep was bought by SRH for Rs 5 crore and South African fast bowler Anrich Nortje was bought by CSK for Rs 7.5 crore. Shivam Mavi was also bought by CSK for Rs 2.50 crore.

KKR spent 13 crores on Pathirana

Sri Lankan fast bowler Mathisha Pathirana, released by Chennai Super Kings, was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 13 crore. CSK spent Rs 10 crore on Rahul Chahar, while Rajasthan Royals bid Rs 11.50 crore for another leg spin bowler Ravi Bishnoi.

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The bugle for the 19th season of the Indian Premier League i.e. IPL 2026 has been sounded. The IPL 2026 auction will be organized this month. A total of 1355 players have registered for the mini auction to be held in Abu Dhabi on 16 December. There are 45 players with base price of Rs 2 crore.

Many Indian players will participate in the IPL 2026 auction, but only two Indians are included in the list of players with a base price of Rs 2 crore. Australia’s explosive batsman Glenn Maxwell has decided not to participate in the IPL 2026 auction. South African legend Faf du Plessis has also withdrawn from IPL. West Indies’ explosive all-rounder Andre Russell has retired from IPL.

1062 Indian and 293 foreign players got registered

According to the report of Cricbuzz, a total of 1355 players have registered for the IPL 2026 auction, which includes the names of major international players from England, Australia, South Africa and Afghanistan. This includes 1062 Indian and 293 foreign players. This list includes players from 212 capped, 1121 uncapped and 22 associate countries.

List of players with base price of Rs 2 crore in IPL 2026 auction

Ravi Bishnoi
Venkatesh Iyer
mujeeb ur rehman
Naveen Ul Haq
sean abbott
ashton agar
cooper connolly
Jake Fraser-McGurk
cameron green
josh inglis
steve smith
Mustafizur Rahman
Gus Atkinson
tom banton
tom curran
Liam Dawson
ben duckett
dan lawrence
liam livingstone
Tymal Mills
jamie smith
finn allen
Michael Bracewell
devon conway
jacob duffy
matt henry
kyle jamieson
adam milne
darryl mitchell
Will O’Rourke,
Rachin Ravindra
Gerald Coetzee
david miller
lungi ngidi
Enrique Nortje
riley rosso
Tabrez Shamsi
David VJ
Wanindu Hasaranga
Mathisha Pathirana
Mahesh Theekshana
jason holder
shy hope
Akil Hossein
Alzarri Joseph

Steve Smith also registered for the auction

Former Australian captain and legendary batsman Steve Smith has also registered for the auction. Let us tell you that Smith was also a part of the mega auction of IPL 2025 last year, but he was not bought by any team in the auction. He remained unsold. It is being said that this time some team can buy him, because Smith is in strong form.

Kolkata Knight Riders is planning to release Venkatesh Iyer. Iyer, who was bought by KKR in the mega auction with a huge bid of Rs 23.75 crore. According to Cricbuzz, Kolkata team can release Venkatesh Iyer, but can buy him again in the auction. Iyer has been playing for the KKR franchise since 2021.

Venkatesh Iyer was a flop in IPL 2025. In the 11 matches played in the season, only 142 runs were scored with his bat. There is speculation that apart from Iyer, Kolkata Knight Riders may also release Quinton de Kock and Anrich Nortje. Venkatesh Iyer had recently said about working with Gautam Gambhir that he expects the best performance from his players. Iyer said that if a player is performing averagely, it becomes difficult for him to keep up with Gambhir.

If we remember the mega auction, KKR had stubbornly bought Venkatesh Iyer. Lucknow Super Giants also showed interest in him, but backed out after a bid of Rs 7.75 crore. Royal Challengers Bangalore also made tireless efforts to buy Iyer, but RCB accepted defeat after a bid of Rs 23.50 crore.

The auction strategy of Kolkata Knight Riders last season was beyond comprehension. The team had also released Shreyas Iyer, so when the time came for the season to start, there was a lot of discussion about the captain. In the end, Ajinkya Rahane was chosen as the captain, who was not even sold in the first round of the auction. With the release of Venkatesh Iyer, KKR’s purse will be emptied by Rs 23.75 crore. This time KKR will especially have to consider keeping many captaincy options open.

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The IPL 2026 auction will be very important, especially for Kolkata Knight Riders. There was a lot of discussion about the captaincy of KKR last season, ultimately the burden of captaincy was placed on the shoulders of Ajinkya Rahane. KKR stood eighth in the table. Now the speculation about releasing Venkatesh Iyer before the auction has also gained momentum, because with his departure the Kolkata team’s purse will be emptied by Rs 23.75 crore. Here let us know about those 5 players whom KKR can release before the IPL 2026 mini auction.

KKR can release 5 players

Venkatesh Iyer

The first name can be that of Venkatesh Iyer, because emptying the purse of Rs 23.75 crore in the mini auction will help KKR a lot in making a strong team. Last year, after receiving such a huge amount, Iyer was able to score only 142 runs in 11 matches.

Moeen Ali

Moeen Ali was bought by KKR for Rs 2 crore in the mega auction last year. Ali could score only 6 runs in 5 matches and could take only 6 wickets in bowling. Due to this poor performance, Kolkata Knight Riders can release him and choose another all-rounder.

spencer johnson

Spencer Johnson, who wreaked havoc across the world with his lethal bowling speed, proved to be a complete failure in the IPL. KKR bought him for Rs 2.8 crore, but after playing 4 matches in the entire season, he was able to take only one wicket.

Enrique Nortje

Enrique Nortje has failed to perform consistently in the last 2-3 seasons. In the last 2 seasons, he has taken only 8 wickets in 8 matches. Whereas in 2025, he took only one wicket in 2 matches for KKR. His economy rate was 11.86.

Manish Pandey

Manish Pandey is one of the few players who has been an integral part of the Indian Premier League since 2008. KKR had signed him in the mega auction for Rs 75 lakh. He got three matches in the entire season, in which only 92 runs were scored from his bat.

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