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Star all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer stated that the atmosphere within the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) dressing room is inherently intense, which he describes as a natural byproduct of having a personality as driven and focused as Virat Kohli leading the group.
Venkatesh Iyer on Virat Kohli's impact in RCB's dressing room
Coming off a historic title win last season, RCB approached the mini-auction with a highly specific strategy, targeting reinforcements to bolster their already established core. Among their key acquisitions were Venkatesh Iyer and Mangesh Yadav, secured for INR 7 crores and INR 5.2 crores, respectively. Despite their significant price tags, neither player has been a permanent fixture in the starting XI thus far, with the team management opting to utilise Iyer primarily as an impact substitute.
While Virat Kohli is renowned for his fiercely competitive nature, where he balances professional intensity with a flair for engaging fans and teammates, his presence behind the scenes brings a surprising, lighter side to the camp. Iyer revealed that Kohli has been instrumental in fostering camaraderie, ensuring that the team shares plenty of enjoyable moments together.
The atmosphere is quite relaxed: Venkatesh Iyer
From amusing antics like imitating Romario Shepherd to playful banter, such as nicknaming Iyer 'Allan Donald' during net sessions, Kohli’s humor keeps the environment dynamic. Ultimately, Iyer emphasised that no dressing room could ever be anything less than intense, yet incredibly spirited, with a character like Kohli at the helm.
"The atmosphere is quite relaxed. At the same time, no dressing room can not be intense where Virat Kohli is there. So obviously, the intensity is right up there, and everyone is very clear about how they have to approach all games. And yeah, so far so good," Iyer said ahead of RCB versus DC clash.
Venkatesh has expressed his eagerness to secure a spot in the starting XI, noting that he is keenly waiting for the right moment to make his debut. Whether he is called upon to be a member of the main lineup or to step in as an impact player, he remains fully focused and ready to seize the opportunity when it finally arrives.
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In the meantime, he is putting in rigorous hours of practice, working hard in the nets to stay sharp. He is biding his time and staying committed to his training, confident that his persistence will pay off when he is eventually given the chance to showcase his current form on the big stage.
"I've been working quite hard with DK in the nets. Just waiting for my opportunity. But yeah, the team's doing really well. Everyone, whatever roles they're given, they are doing it 100%. And I think it's just about waiting for my opportunity, and whenever it arises, obviously, with the impact player rule, I can go into bat anytime. So yeah, just putting in the hard yards at training and let's see what happens," he concluded.
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