India, June 5 -- There was certainly an increase in expectation from India all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer, when his auction value soared to INR 23.75 crore on the opening day of the mega event in Riyadh last November, an increment of 1087.5 per cent from his base price of INR 2 crore. It further peaked with Kolkata Knight Riders announcing him the vice-captain. Alas, it met the same brutal fate. Succumbed under the pressure, he managed just 142 runs in 11 innings, resulting in a disastrous season. However, Andy Flower, under whom the Royal Challengers Bengaluru lifted their maiden IPL title this year, claimed Iyer would have performed better had he been in RCB.

The last bid price for Iyer, before KKR roped him in, was INR 23.50 crore, which ...