India, May 18 -- RCB did not get Venkatesh Iyer when his market was at its hottest. They chased him when Kolkata Knight Riders bought him back for Rs.23.75 crore before IPL 2025, after a bidding war in which RCB stayed involved deep into the premium range.

One year later, the same player arrived in Bengaluru for Rs.7 crore after a steep auction correction. Against PBKS, Venkatesh finally gave RCB the kind of ledger-backed night that explains why Andy Flower's side had kept chasing him.

Venkatesh's 73 not out off 40 balls in Match 61 was not only a strong batting performance. It became the first clean financial defence of RCB's long pursuit. Our monetary ledger valued his innings at Rs.3.80 crore on a rating-adjusted basis. His match cos...