
Former India cricketer Anil Kumble predicts Venkatesh Iyer may not start for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the initial phase of IPL 2026. Despite RCB acquiring Iyer for Rs 7 crore, Kumble believes the team will prioritize stability in their winning lineup to avoid creating doubt among players. He suggested this approach also influenced their decision not to pursue other players like Ravi Bishnoi. Kumble praised RCB for retaining their core squad while adding strategic backups.