3 players RCB had the penultimate bid for in IPL 2025 Auction who would have fit the team well ft. Venkatesh Iyer

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) think tank was under extreme scrutiny by experts and fans after their outing at the IPL 2025 mega auction. Having released some key players, the RCB management opted to use just one RTM card during the auction, for all-rounder Swapnil Singh.

Some players who played a key role in taking the team over the line and securing a spot in the knockouts last term, are no longer part of the team. They retained Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar and Yash Dayal before the auction and had three RTM options available, but didn’t use them for any big players.

Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif went so far as to say that the team went from ‘bad to worse’ after the auction. While they got into a bidding war several times, backing out at the last moment cost them big time, eventually leading to the team losing on some top players.

That said, let’s look at three players, who would have fit the team well, for whom RCB had the penultimate bid at the IPL 2025 Auction:

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#3 David Miller

While the initial bidding war for David Miller was between Gujarat Titans (GT) and RCB, the latter came close to buying the South African cricketer at INR 5.25 crore after GT backed out. Delhi Capitals then entered and took it further, with RCB giving a tough competition.

RCB remained strong in the game until DC backed out, and had almost secured Miller for INR 7.25 crore before Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) raised the paddle, which is when RCB backed out.

Had they gone a little further and spent some more money, they could have acquired the services of the Proteas batter. But not trying to push it forward cost them as LSG roped him in for INR 7.50 crore.

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#2 T Natarajan

Indian fast-bowler Natarajan registered himself at a base price of INR 2 crore ahead of the auction, and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) started the bidding process. SRH and RCB took it forward before the former team backed out.

DC then entered the bidding war, taking the player’s price from INR 4.20 crore to INR 10.75 crore. RCB bid to 10.50 crore but opted not to raise the paddle when Delhi took it another step ahead.

Natarajan was eventually sold to the Capitals for INR 10.75 crore as a death-over specialist. The left-arm speedster represented SRH from 2018 to 2024.

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#1 Venkatesh Iyer

Venkatesh Iyer earned big bucks at the IPL 2025 Auction, with his former franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) opening the bidding process at INR 2 crore, his base price. KKR and LSG were involved in a bidding war before the latter backed out and RCB entered.

RCB and KKR then entered an even more intense war, with the former taking the price from INR 8 crore to over 20 crore. Had RCB not backed out here, the cricketer would have received even more money and broken records.

RCB opted out from bidding at INR 23.50 crore, as KKR sealed the deal at INR 25.75 crore. Venkatesh Iyer thus returned to his original franchise at a salary almost three times higher than his previous wages of INR 8 crore.