Kohli Praises Venkatesh as Next Allan Donald

Venkatesh Iyer is feeling great in his new role with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) after receiving high praise from Virat Kohli during a training session ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL), which starts this Saturday. Iyer, who previously played for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for five seasons, was acquired by RCB for ₹7 crore at last year’s auction in Abu Dhabi.

Originally signed by KKR for a whopping ₹23.75 crores before IPL 2025, the Madhya Pradesh cricketer was released after an underwhelming season where he scored just 142 runs in 11 matches. However, his fortunes changed at RCB, where he was filmed nailing a crucial off-stump delivery during training. Kohli reacted with excitement, dubbing Iyer “Venkateshwar” and comparing him to the legendary South African pacer Allan Donald. Kohli even joked, “Tu to Allan Donald bana hua hai” (You’re like Allan Donald).

Interestingly, Iyer wasn’t RCB’s first choice during the IPL 2026 mini-auction. After winning IPL last year, RCB had targeted Rajasthan’s Kartik Sharma. But with KKR and Chennai Super Kings having higher budgets, RCB shifted their focus to Iyer.

A powerful hitter, Iyer can bat anywhere from the top to number seven and also contributes with his seam bowling. His ability to bowl a few overs in the middle will ease the pressure on other bowlers, as noted by head coach Andy Flower. RCB’s Director of Cricket, Mo Bobat, added that Iyer’s batting skills were a key factor in signing him.