{"id":4553,"date":"2026-04-22T19:22:46","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T19:22:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/1win.za.com\/ipl\/venkatesh-iyer-ready-for-rcb-xi-role-after-waiting-his-turn"},"modified":"2026-04-22T19:22:46","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T19:22:46","slug":"venkatesh-iyer-ready-for-rcb-xi-role-after-waiting-his-turn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/1win.za.com\/ipl\/venkatesh-iyer-ready-for-rcb-xi-role-after-waiting-his-turn","title":{"rendered":"Venkatesh Iyer Ready for RCB XI Role After Waiting His Turn"},"content":{"rendered":"

Venkatesh Iyer says he is eager to earn a regular spot in Royal Challengers Bengaluru\u2019s playing XI, but he is also fully aware why he has had to bide his time. The Kolkata Knight Riders all-rounder, who is part of RCB\u2019s plans after moving ahead of IPL 2026, believes the clarity provided by the franchise\u2019s leadership has helped him stay focused\u2014especially in a dressing room where roles are clearly defined.<\/p>\n

Role clarity, bench realities and motivation<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Venkatesh, an all-rounder, admitted he is not used to watching from the sidelines, yet he stressed the importance of fitting into the team environment and putting team needs first.<\/li>\n
  2. He explained that the Bengaluru side, which ended IPL 2024 as champions, are unlikely to reshuffle a combination that delivered the title.<\/li>\n
  3. From his perspective, joining a settled group means understanding where he can contribute best rather than forcing his way into every match.<\/li>\n
  4. He credited key figures\u2014Mo Bobat, Andy Flower and Dinesh Karthik\u2014for helping him understand his role, saying they have given him \u201cabsolute clarity\u201d through consistent conversations.<\/li>\n
  5. While he acknowledged that sitting out is difficult and not something a player can fully prepare for, he insisted it is a question of timing rather than a sign that he is outside the team\u2019s thinking.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Venkatesh also pointed to how his transition has come with a sharp change in valuation and opportunity. RCB bought the 31-year-old for Rs 7 crore at the auction ahead of IPL 2025, a stark contrast to the Rs 23.75 crore he previously commanded with KKR. With his match involvement at Bengaluru reduced so far, he said his motivation has not fallen\u2014particularly because T20 cricket can change quickly with the impact player rule.<\/p>\n

    \u201cIt\u2019s not easy. But it\u2019s extremely important to stay motivated because you can easily get desperate,\u201d he said, adding that losing confidence can damage work ethic. He described his approach as mentally preparing to play every game and keeping his mindset ready for any chance that comes up.<\/p>\n

    He further shared that he measures himself against his progress from the previous day rather than only focusing on one particular match. He said his life off the field\u2014being married and having a family\u2014also reinforces his drive, especially after enjoying \u201ca great time\u201d in earlier years.<\/p>\n

    KKR emotions and learning from the past<\/h2>\n

    Asked whether he carries any lingering regret about KKR moving him on to free up a purse close to Rs 24 crore, Venkatesh said he does not deny the emotional connection. He said he spent a significant amount of time with KKR and learned a great deal there.<\/p>\n

    He also highlighted the communication with KKR coach Abhishek Nair, who, according to Venkatesh, wanted to release him at that point in time. Venkatesh said the coach explained what the team required, and he added that if a move is good for the franchise, players can be released to make it happen.<\/p>\n

    Batting education from Karthik and Patidar\u2019s simplicity<\/h2>\n

    Venkatesh then spoke about what he has been absorbing from Dinesh Karthik, saying he is learning the finer details of modern T20 batting techniques. He said Karthik has been working with him specifically on his batting, including how to read situations, make smarter decisions, stay ahead of opponents, and combine that with relentless effort.<\/p>\n

    He also offered praise for RCB skipper Rajat Patidar, who was his age-group teammate from Madhya Pradesh. Venkatesh said Patidar\u2019s biggest strength is his simplicity\u2014both in the way he thinks and in the way he goes about his batting. He noted that people often marvel at how comfortably Patidar clears the boundary, but Venkatesh believes the underlying method is straightforward.<\/p>\n

    Venkatesh added that Patidar remains consistent over time, saying he has not changed much across the years and still carries the same Rajat he admired back in under-19 days.<\/p>\n

    Upgrading red-ball skills alongside IPL preparation<\/h2>\n

    Venkatesh said IPL net sessions are not typically the place players look to sharpen red-ball skills, but he is actively working on that side of his game. He explained that one reason is personal\u2014he gets bored in the room\u2014so he prefers not to spend too long indoors. More importantly, he believes he has not fully tapped into his red-ball bowling, so he makes a point of seeking guidance from bowlers with extensive experience in that format.<\/p>\n

    He recalled that last year, during his time with KKR, he had Mitchell Starc to learn from, while this season he is working with Josh Hazlewood. Venkatesh said their conversations focus on how he can improve his red-ball bowling.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Venkatesh Iyer says he is eager to earn a regular spot in Royal Challengers Bengaluru\u2019s playing XI, but he is also fully aware why he…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":4552,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"Venkatesh Iyer Set for RCB XI Role in IPL 2026","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Venkatesh Iyer opens up on waiting for his moment at RCB, aiming to lock a regular IPL 2026 XI spot with role clarity and fresh motivation.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4553","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\nVenkatesh Iyer Set for RCB XI Role in IPL 2026<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Venkatesh Iyer opens up on waiting for his moment at RCB, aiming to lock a regular IPL 2026 XI spot with role clarity and fresh motivation.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" 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