Andy Flower praised Venkatesh Iyer for his professionalism and attitude after Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured a place in IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 despite a defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday.
Although RCB went down by 55 runs, the result was enough to ensure a top-two finish on the points table. Venkatesh Iyer impressed at the top of the order with a quickfire 44 off just 19 balls, hitting four boundaries and four sixes before falling to Eshan Malinga.
Flower praises Iyer’s attitude
Speaking after the match, Flower said he had immense respect for the experienced all-rounder, particularly for the way he handled limited opportunities during the season.
“Venkatesh has had to wait patiently for his chances, and every time he’s been called upon, he has contributed positively,” Flower said at the post-match press conference.
The RCB head coach highlighted Iyer’s commitment behind the scenes, saying the left-hander remained fully engaged despite spending much of the season outside the starting XI.
“He has maintained a brilliant attitude throughout the campaign. Whether it was batting, bowling or fielding practice, he worked hard every session and stayed positive in the dugout,” Flower added.
Strong debut season for RCB
Iyer joined RCB ahead of IPL 2026 after moving from Kolkata Knight Riders in the mini-auction, where Bengaluru secured him for Rs 7 crore.
Despite not being a regular starter early in the tournament, he made significant contributions whenever selected. One of his standout performances came against Punjab Kings, when he smashed an unbeaten 73 off 40 deliveries and earned the Player of the Match award.
In five matches this season, Iyer has scored 158 runs at an impressive average of 79 and a strike rate above 177, strengthening RCB’s batting depth heading into the playoffs.
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