Abu Dhabi, Dec. 16 -- All-rounder Venkatesh Iyer joins defending Champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for Rs 7 crores in the Indian Premier League (IPL) mini auction on Tuesday.

Iyer went under the hammer for a base price of Rs 2 crore. Lucknow Super Giants raise the paddle for the first time. Gujarat Titans also join the race after a brief pause.

The bidding war begins when Iyer's former team, Kolkata Knight Riders, enters the race. RCB and KKR kept fighting for him; however, RCB signed the MP all-rounder.

Iyer has 1,468 runs at an average of 29.12, with a strike rate of over 137, a century and 12 fifties in 56 innings in IPL. Last year, KKR bought him back for Rs 23.75 crores, but he had a poor season, with just 142 runs in se...