Vihan malhotra

Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer credited Virat Kohli and mentor Dinesh Karthik for helping him remain calm during his match-winning innings against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 clash at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala on Sunday.

Iyer played a sensational unbeaten knock of 73 off 40 deliveries to power RCB to 222/4, a total that eventually helped the side secure a 23-run victory and become the first team to qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs.

Speaking in a video released by RCB on Monday, Iyer said he was delighted to contribute to the team’s success and stressed that he focuses more on impact rather than personal milestones. “Very happy, very happy that I got to bat, very happy that I was able to contribute. I really don't look at scores, I look at what I'm able to contribute to my team, and I'm happy that I was able to do it,” Iyer said.