Soon after the IPL 2026 mini-auction, Venkatesh Iyer received a major leadership role, showing that teams still have strong faith in his abilities despite a less impressive IPL 2025 season.

The all-rounder has been appointed captain of the Madhya Pradesh team for the 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy, India’s top domestic one-day tournament, which will start on December 24.

At the IPL 2026 auction, Iyer drew interest from many franchises. Royal Challengers Bangalore finally bought him for ₹7 crore, outbidding Gujarat Titans, Lucknow Super Giants, and his former team, Kolkata Knight Riders, who pushed the bid up to ₹6.80 crore before leaving the auction.

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Venkatesh Iyer Takes Charge

Venkatesh Iyer will lead Madhya Pradesh in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, replacing Rajat Patidar as captain.

Patidar, who led RCB to the IPL 2025 title, also guided Madhya Pradesh to good performances in the Ranji Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. His absence from the squad has surprised many.

Iyer played 10 matches in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy earlier this season and scored 211 runs. 

Read More -Who is Vihaan Malhotra? 5 interesting facts about RCB’s uncapped signing at IPL 2026 auction

Venkatesh Iyer to lead Madhya Pradesh in Vijay Hazare Trophy in Ahmedabad

· Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) on Thursday selected Venkatesh Iyer as captain of their men's senior team for the Vijay Hazare Trophy league stage, which will be held in Ahmedabad from… pic.twitter.com/uLRKsFmkb0

— IANS (@ians_india) December 18, 2025

Big Names Set to Play Vijay Hazare Trophy

Among the other players picked are experienced batter Yash Dubey and IPL star Kumar Kartikeya. Kartikeya moved to the Rajasthan Royals last year after playing for the Mumbai Indians from 2022 to 2024.

Shubham Sharma and Harpreet Singh are also part of the 16-member squad. Madhav Tiwari has been included, but his selection depends on fitness.

The Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 has gained extra importance due to the presence of top Indian players. Stars like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Prasidh Krishna have been named in their state squads.

Virat Kohli has confirmed his availability for Delhi, while Rohit Sharma is open to playing for Mumbai in the league stage. KL Rahul and Prasidh Krishna have been selected by defending champions Karnataka.

The BCCI has made it mandatory for senior players to take part in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. With a three-week gap between India’s last T20I against South Africa on December 19 and the first ODI against New Zealand on January 11, 2026, the board wants senior players to use this window to play domestic cricket.

Madhya Pradesh Squad for Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26

Venkatesh Iyer (captain), Harsh Gawli, Himanshu Mantri, Yash Dubey, Shubham Sharma, Harpreet Singh, Rishabh Chauhan, Ritik Tada, Kumar Kartikeya, Saransh Jain, Shivang Kumar, Aryan Pandey, Rahul Batham, Tripuresh Singh, Mangesh Yadav, Madhav Tiwari

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) made some important additions to their strong team in the IPL 2026 auction. The team focused on uncapped players, with five out of their eight buys coming from that category. One of them was the Patiala-born teenager, Vihaan Malhotra, bought for ₹30 Lakh.

At 18, Vihaan has already made a mark in Indian cricket with good performances this year. While his chances of playing in the main XI next season may be low, the batting all-rounder could be a big prospect for RCB in the future. Interestingly, Vihaan is one of the few players who bat left-handed but bowl right-arm off-spin.

RCB fans have also been curious to know more about the young player. Here are five interesting facts about RCB's uncapped signing at the IPL 2026 auction, Vihaan Malhotra.

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1. Vihaan Malhotra’s Rise to Fame in England

Vihaan Malhotra became known among Indian cricket fans during the India Under-19 tour of England earlier this year. The left-handed batsman scored 243 runs in five ODIs, finishing as the third-highest run-scorer. His average was 48.60, with a strike rate of almost 99.

His performances helped India Under-19 win the ODI series 3-2. Vihaan also played well in the red-ball series, scoring 277 runs in two Tests at an average of over 69, including a century and two half-centuries.

2. Sacrificing His Spot for IPL Stars

Before the England tour, Vihaan had to give up his opening role to two IPL 2025 stars, Ayush Mhatre and Vaibhav Suryavanshi. His coach, Kamalpreet Sandhu, asked him to bat at No.3 and make that position his own.

“He has opened all his life. Batting at No.3 was new for him. I told him Vaibhav and Ayush earned their spot, and he should make No.3 his own,” said Kamalpreet. Vihaan followed his coach’s advice and performed well at No.3 during the England tour.

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3. Idolising Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill

Vihaan enjoys playing all three formats and wants to earn a national call-up through consistent performances, not just a few IPL knocks.

He looks up to Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill because they succeed in all formats. “I admire Shubman Gill. He is technically strong and performs in white-ball cricket too. Kohli and Gill are great examples of complete batsmen,” said Vihaan Malhotra in a recent interview.

He added, “Cricket isn’t only one format. Red-ball cricket builds the base for white-ball success. Some people think a few IPL knocks can get you to India, but I believe in the grind. After England, Vihaan also played in the U-19 tour of Australia. He scored well in the ODIs, averaging just under 40, but struggled in the red-ball matches, averaging under 13.

4. Inspired by Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Team Competition

Vaibhav Suryavanshi, only 14, made headlines in IPL 2025, scoring 252 runs at an average of 36 and a strike rate of 206.55 in seven matches. Vihaan said Vaibhav’s success inspired him, even though they could be future competitors.

He also mentioned Ayush Mhatre and said the competition helped him improve. “The focus on Vaibhav and Ayush helped me go under the radar. Bowlers wanted to dismiss IPL stars first, so I could work my way in. Having them in the team pushed me to work harder,” said Vihaan.

Ayush Mhatre also performed well in IPL 2025, scoring 240 runs at an average of 34.28 and a strike rate of 188.97 in seven games.

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5. Imitating Shubman Gill’s Celebration

Vihaan also admires Shubman Gill’s batting and his celebrations. Gill’s signature bow celebration after milestones inspired Vihaan to copy him. “It was amazing to watch him bat live in England. I celebrate my milestones like him — with that bow,” said Vihaan.

Gill had a great Test series in England, scoring 754 runs at an average of over 75, including four centuries, in the 2-2 drawn five-match series.

Phil Salt has shared his first reaction after being picked by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the IPL 2025 auction. He said he felt at once that he was a good fit for the team. Speaking on the RCB Podcast, Salt said the team’s style and clear communication helped him settle in easily.

“My first thought was that this is a team I would enjoy playing for. The way RCB have always played their cricket really suited me. From my first talk with Mo (Bobat) after the auction, I clearly understood why they picked me and what role they wanted me to play. Everything matched my style of play,” Salt said.

RCB bought Phil Salt for Rs 11.50 crore at the auction, and the move proved to be a great one. The England wicketkeeper-batter scored 403 runs in 13 matches for RCB, including four half-centuries. His steady starts at the top of the order played a big role in RCB’s title-winning season.

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Notably, RCB ended their 18-year wait for an IPL title by beating Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the final earlier this year.

Phil Salt’s Remarkable IPL Journey

Phil Salt was part of Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) title-winning season in 2024, where he scored 435 runs in 12 matches. A year later, he helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) win their first-ever IPL title. With this, he became one of the few players to win IPL titles in back-to-back seasons with two different teams.

Salt has also been retained by RCB ahead of the IPL auction, which will take place on December 16.

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RCB Retained and Released Players

Retained Players:

Rajat Patidar, Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Krunal Pandya, Josh Hazlewood, Tim David, Jitesh Sharma, Devdutt Padikkal, Nuwan Thushara, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jacob Bethell, Romario Shepherd, Suyash Sharma, Swapnil Singh, Yash Dayal, Abhinandan Singh, Rasikh Dar.

Released Players:

Swastik Chikara, Mayank Agarwal, Tim Seifert, Liam Livingstone, Manoj Bhandage, Lungi Ngidi, Blessing Muzarabani, Mohit Rathee.

Former India cricketer Venkatesh Prasad has been officially elected as the new President of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA). The elections were held on Sunday, December 7. Leading the Team Game Changers panel, Prasad defeated KN Shanth Kumar, who was backed by former IPL chairman Brijesh Patel.

One of the main promises of Prasad’s panel was to bring cricket back to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. This includes hosting IPL matches as well as Indian team matches. It is important to note that no major matches have been held at the stadium since the stampede incident after Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL title win in 2025.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar visited the stadium to cast his vote. He stated that he would do everything possible to help bring cricket back to the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

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Venkatesh Prasad, the former India pace bowler, has been elected president of the Karnataka State Cricket Association pic.twitter.com/BjyDchwXaL

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) December 8, 2025

DK Shivakumar Assures IPL Will Stay At Chinnaswamy

“We will not allow IPL matches to be shifted out of the Chinnaswamy Stadium. This is a matter of pride for Bengaluru and Karnataka. We will ensure that IPL matches are held here. I am a cricket fan, and we will make sure that such incidents do not happen again in the future. We will protect the reputation of the stadium. We will also build a new cricket stadium as an alternative,” DK Shivakumar was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

On Sunday, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, a KSCA life member and one of the early voters, again promised that the IPL will remain at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

“I am a cricket lover. We will ensure that such accidents do not happen again. We will hold cricket matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in a way that protects the honour of Bengaluru. We will not shift the IPL anywhere else. It will continue to be held at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. This is the pride of Bengaluru and Karnataka, and we will protect it,” he said.

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Venkatesh Prasad Joins Elite Group Of Former India Cricketers In Administration

After being officially elected as the new KSCA President, Venkatesh Prasad took to X and said that he felt honoured to take on the new role. He also spoke about his strong commitment to bringing cricket back to the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

“Humbled to take on the responsibility as KSCA President. Committed to bringing IPL and international cricket back to Chinnaswamy and to working for the growth of Karnataka cricket at all levels. With teamwork, transparency, and dedication, we will reach our goals. Thank you to every member who placed their faith in me,” Prasad tweeted.

With his election, Prasad has joined a small group of former India players who are now active in cricket administration. Former Delhi captain Mithun Manhas, now an administrator in Jammu & Kashmir, was recently elected as the BCCI President. Meanwhile, Prasad’s former India teammate Sourav Ganguly was unanimously elected as the President of the Cricket Association of Bengal.

Former India players Saurabh Tiwary and Shahbaz Nadeem have also entered cricket administration in Jharkhand and now hold key positions.

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have earned their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy in 2025 by beating the Punjab Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. If the parent company, Diageo, decides to sell, up to six parties have shown their interest, even though the parent company could still change its mind at the last minute.

Diageo’s shareholders are not excited about continuing to own an IPL team, which isn’t a core business for the liquor company. The six companies, Adar Poonawala, Parth Jindal’s JSW group, Adani Group, A Delhi-based billionaire with multi-sector interests, and two US-based private equity firms, have shown their wish to buy the franchise.

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In 2010, Cyrus Poonawala tried to buy the IPL team when Lalit Modi expanded the league. He lost to Pune’s Sahara and Kochi’s Rendezvous. There is a surprising factor in the Jindal angle, who has already owned 50% of the Delhi Capitals. If they want to go for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, then they will have to sell that stake first.

Know six parties that have interest in bying RCB if parent company sells them ahead of IPL 2026

The Adanis have been eyeing an IPL side for years before they nearly got Ahmedabad’s Gujarat Titans in 2022. Diageo wants USD 2 billion for the Bengaluru side, as it depends on the next media rights cycle. The future of the league’s broadcast will hinge on JioStar. If they charge nearly INR 100 per month and have nearly 500M subscribers, the league could generate nearly INR 20000 crore in one season just from the subscriptions.

Over the five years, that’s more than $10B in subscription revenue, along with the $2.5 billion in advertisements. The last cycle’s media rights were worth $6.3 billion, and the bump in the 2027 cycle won’t be unrealistic. That’s what’s keeping the buyers interested, despite the heavy tag. On the other hand, Citi and another private bank have been roped in by Diageo to advise on the sale.

Diageo’s India arm hasn’t been on board yet, and the issue of the post-stampede case during the trophy celebration outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru has added another layer of uncertainty. RCB will look to defend their title next year under Patidar’s captaincy as Virat Kohli’s time is coming to an end slowly, also in the franchise tournament.

The Indian Premier League (IPL), which is the best T20 franchise tournament in cricket, was once the most celebrated tournament and has seen a drop in its valuation for the second successive year. In 2025, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) earned the title under the leadership of Rajat Patidar against the Punjab Kings in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

A report by the D&P Advisory on October 15, 2025, states that IPL’s ecosystem value has dropped by nearly 11%, declining to $8.8 billion (INR 76100 crore) in 2025 from $9.9 billion (INR 82700 crore) in 2024 and INR 92500 crore in IPL 2023, which was its peak. This could be due to the nationwide ban on real money gaming and the consolidation of media rights.

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The 2025 Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act banned the money-game advertising and sponsorship, which resulted in a loss of nearly INR 1500 to INR 2000 crore in annual ad and sponsorship revenue from the ecosystem of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

IPL 2025’s valuation declines by 11% for second successive year due to ban on real money gaming

The fantasy and gaming platforms have contributed significantly to the revenue for the broadcasters and league partners. Their absence has made a huge gap, which has affected the front t-shirt sponsorships and digital ad inventories. This led to lower advertisement rates and reduced brand spending.

The Women’s Premier League (WPL), just like the Indian Premier League (IPL), has also faced similar issues. Its valuation dropped by 5.6% to INR 1275 crore from INR 1350 crore, amid all the uncertainty after the exit of Dream11 and the impact it brought on the gaming bill. D&P advisory managing partner, Santosh N, however, remains hopeful of the leagues again growing in the future.

The 2025 season of the IPL collected a billion viewers, with digital audiences surpassing television for the very first time. The WPL 2025 season has seen an increase of 150% in TV ratings and 70% growth in digital viewership, along with near-full grounds and travel activity around the fixtures.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) were unsure about the availability of their explosive opener Phil Salt for the IPL 2025 final. Salt had skipped training on the eve of the big match, sparking reports that he might miss the clash.

The uncertainty arose because Salt had flown back to England after Qualifier 1 to be with his wife, Abi, for the birth of their first child on June 1. Although he wanted to be present for both his family and his team, Abi insisted he should not miss another final, telling him to return to India immediately.

“I was in Ahmedabad two days before the final, and got a phone call off the missus to say it was definitely happening,” Salt told ESPN. “I got on the plane as quickly as I could. Abi kicked me out the door, basically. She said, 'You have to play'. She made the decision for me, which was very funny – and very selfless of her.”

Salt’s IPL Journey and Match Impact

Salt’s determination to play was strengthened by missing the 2024 final with Kolkata Knight Riders due to national duty, an absence he admitted had hurt him as KKR went on to win the title. Landing in Ahmedabad on the morning of the final, Salt scored a quick 16 off 9 balls and took a stunning catch, helping RCB defeat Punjab Kings to claim their first-ever IPL trophy after 18 attempts. This marked Salt’s second consecutive IPL title, having won with KKR in 2024.

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Prior to the final, Salt was one of RCB's best players in IPL 2025, having scored 387 runs over 12 matches at an average of 35.18 and a strike rate of 175.90. In Qualifier 1, his unbeaten innings of 56 in 27 deliveries showed that he could win the match for his side. Since making his debut with Delhi Capitals in 2023, Salt has become one of the IPL’s most explosive openers and made 1,056 runs in 34 innings at a strike rate of 176 over three seasons.

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain, Rajat Patidar, was at the helm of the franchise in the 2025 season and broke the franchise's 18-year-old curse to lift its maiden title. Virat Kohli, the former captain, played a huge role in the success of making the Madhya Pradesh player their new leader of the side.

In a recent interview, Mo Bobat, the director of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), shared the story that the former Indian captain, Virat Kohli, was a strong pillar behind the announcement of Patidar as the leader of the Bengaluru side. He shared the story of how they tracked Patidar as the captain of MP to follow his calmness and process of leadership in domestic cricket.

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“We spoke with Virat Kohli that Patidar was going to be the new captain, and Virat said, '100% I'm there to help. It's in all of our interests if Rajat succeeds. Let's give this a go. It was brilliant to have Virat's blessing and his approval.” Mo Bobat told during a recent interaction on Cricbuzz.

Mo Bobat explains story of appointing Rajat Patidar as RCB captain for IPL 2025

The 32-year-old, Rajat Patidar, smashed 312 runs in 14 innings at an average of 24 and a strike rate of 143.77 during the 2025 season of the Indian Premier League with the help of two half-centuries at the best score of 64. During the 2024 season of the league, he cracked 395 runs in 13 innings at an average of 30 and a strike rate of 177 with five fifties.

“These fans (of RCB) waited for 18 years, so we wanted to do it for them, and for some of them to have lost their lives just feels incredibly sad. We look forward to being able to recognize those people and their families. Their stories have become a part of our history now. The fact is, RCB were going to win the IPL at some stage. That’s a fact. In another 100 years, they will win it one, right? Why not us?” Bobat addressed.

In the title-winning campaign, Virat Kohli smacked 657 runs in 15 innings at an average of 54.75 and a strike rate of 144.71 with the help of eight half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 73 runs.

AB de Villiers spoke about a big mistake made by the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) during the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025. In a recent podcast, the former batter was asked about some decisions taken by the Delhi team in the past.

"Both. Imagine both Virat and myself there. But I was very happy to move to RCB. What a great city, what great fans. I think I will be involved with them in the future, but I can’t say when. I would love to coach them one day, but I don’t know yet what role they would want me to take or if I’m ready for it. I just want to keep my relationship with them healthy for the rest of my life," he said.

The African legend played for RCB until the 2021 season. He featured in 157 matches for the team, scoring 4,522 runs at an average of 41.10 and a strike rate of 158.33, with two hundreds. Overall, he scored three IPL hundreds, with his first coming for the Delhi Daredevils in 2009.

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AB de Villiers regrets not winning an IPL title with RCB

RCB reached the IPL final in 2016. They came close to winning but fell short. Despite playing many seasons for the team, AB de Villiers could not win an IPL trophy and regrets it.

"I will always regret that. The 2016 final still hurts because we were so close. I felt we were the better team and should have won. But that’s sport—full of ups and downs and surprises. That’s why fans love it so much," he said.

In the 2016 final, RCB faced SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Bengaluru. SRH batted first and scored 208/7. Virat Kohli (54) and Chris Gayle (76) gave RCB a flying start, adding 114 runs for the first wicket in just 10.3 overs. It looked like RCB would easily chase the target.

However, after Kohli and Gayle got out, the rest of the team collapsed. They ended on 200/7, falling nine runs short of the title. AB de Villiers was the third-highest run-scorer of that season, with 687 runs from 16 matches.

AB de Villiers Shines as South Africa Champions Win WCL 2025

Mr. 360 of cricket rolled back the years with a brilliant performance to lead South Africa Champions to the WCL 2025 title. He was named Player of the Tournament after scoring his third century of the event, an unbeaten knock in the final against Pakistan.

The dreams of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans to witness AB de Villiers in RCB colors one last time have been dashed yet again, despite his brilliant performances in the World Championship of Legends 2025 (WCL). The South African icon looked as sharp and elegant as always and led the South Africa Champions to the title with his typical flair and calmness. His resurgence sparked excitement among fans, who hoped for a fairytale return to the IPL.

Following the WCL final, when Shubhankar Mishra asked AB whether he would consider coming out of retirement to play one last IPL season for RCB, the Proteas great ended all speculation. In his usual composed and humble manner, de Villiers explained that while he remains fit and active, the demands of the IPL are simply too intense. He pointed out the Indian Premier League's three-month duration, stressing that it's not just about being in shape—it's about being mentally and physically ready to handle the pressure day in and day out.

“I'll be too nervous, man. I think I'd rather just support; I'm a very good supporter. Yeah, the IPL is just a very long tournament. It's almost a three-month tournament. It is a really big commitment for someone at the age of 41. You can't compare me to Imran Tahir. I work a lot harder. I had a lot more hard work. I think throughout the years,” de Villiers said, making it clear that a comeback would require more than just desire—it would demand full-scale commitment and intense preparation.

“We’re all different”—AB reflects on comparisons, retirement, and moving on

Addressing comparisons with other veteran cricketers like Imran Tahir, who at 46 continues to play in T20 leagues worldwide, AB responded with respect and perspective. “I mean, that's crazy. I'll take my hat to them. That's absolutely amazing. And I mean, you've got to look up to that. But we're all different, and I think that is the beautiful part of the sport—some guys feel they've had enough after the age of 30. Some are only at 40. It depends,” he explained, emphasizing that every athlete’s journey is unique and personal.

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As he signed off, de Villiers looked back at his career with pride and gratitude. “So, I'm just, first of all, thankful that I could actually have a very lengthy career from the age of 20 right through to whenever I retired. I don't even know how long it was. It felt quite long. But I gave it my best shot, and I'm happy.” His words echoed the sentiments of fans who watched him light up the IPL for over a decade, especially for RCB, where he scored 4178 of his 5162 IPL runs, including 3 centuries and 40 fifties. Although not making a return to the field, AB de Villiers will always be a firm icon in the RCB legacy.