Venkatesh Iyer to David Miller: Five Most Underutilized Player in IPL 2026 Season

The 19th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) reached a breathtaking conclusion with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) lifting the coveted trophy after defeating the Gujarat Titans (GT) in a high-octane final.

By successfully defending their crown, RCB etched their name into the history books, becoming only the third franchise in tournament history to win back-to-back IPL championships.

However, while RCB's triumph was built on a clinical team effort, the gruelling campaign also highlighted a common franchise dilemma: elite talent left warming the bench. Whether due to rigid tactical combinations, a preference for big-name overseas stars, or limited positional windows, several players with massive domestic and international credentials were drastically under-used.

Top 5 Underutilized Players in IPL 2026

Venkatesh Iyer (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)

Despite being part of the championship-winning squad, Venkatesh Iyer remained one of the most under-used assets of the season. Signed by RCB for ₹7 crore in the mini-auction, the tall left-handed all-rounder spent the vast majority of the tournament watching from the sidelines. When finally called upon, his clutch abilities rescued RCB repeatedly in critical moments.

Batting Impact: He was limited to just 7 matches, yet scored 209 runs at an astounding average of 52.25 and a massive strike rate of 186.6. He proved his "clutch" status yet again in the final, hammering a rapid 32 off 16 balls to break the game open.

Despite being a highly competent bowling option capable of breaking partnerships, RCB barely threw him the ball in their standard bowling rotations.

Kartik Sharma (Chennai Super Kings)

Chennai Super Kings shattered records by picking up young wicketkeeper-batter Kartik Sharma for a whopping ₹14.2 crore, making him the joint-most expensive uncapped player in IPL auction history. Known for his incredible six-hitting ability and domestic finishing exploits, he was strangely denied a consistent top-order run by the CSK management.

Over 11 matches, he faced just 216 balls, primarily relegated to lower-order, death-overs cameos. Despite this severe restriction, he amassed 295 runs at a solid average of 32.78 and a strike rate of 136.57, clearing the ropes 16 times.

Auqib Nabi (Delhi Capitals)

Known affectionately as the "Baramulla Express," Auqib Nabi was picked up by the Delhi Capitals for ₹8.4 crore following a historic 60-wicket Ranji Trophy season. Despite his flawless seam movement, raw pace, and stellar domestic record, the DC management frequently sidelined him in favour of veteran overseas fast-bowling stars.
When he did get a rare opportunity to swing his bat at the crease, he scored 14 runs across his outings at a staggering strike rate of 350.00.

Nabi was capped to just 5 matches all season, bowling a total of 13 overs without picking up a single wicket. He conceded 149 runs at an expensive economy rate of 11.46, as his intermittent usage prevented him from building any real bowling rhythm.

David Miller (Delhi Capitals)

The veteran South African finisher David Miller was signed by the Delhi Capitals for ₹2 crore. Boasting a spectacular lifelong record as an ice-cold match-winner, Miller was consistently under-utilized by a DC squad that frequently preferred younger, unproven Indian domestic talent ahead of him in the batting order.

In the matches where he was given a proper window to construct an innings, Miller was clinical. He scored 211 runs in 10 active innings and remained not out 4 times. His season highlights included a blistering 51 off 28 balls against Punjab and a crucial, unbeaten 41* off 20 balls against GT, finishing the tournament with a strike rate of 154.

Rahul Tripathi (Kolkata Knight Riders)

The Indian batter has been a proven performer in IPL for years. KKR got him at a base price but never played a game this season. The Maharashtra-born batter is known for his hitting arc and ability to utilize the powerplay, but Kolkata team management stuck to Ajinkya Rahane for the entire season at the top of the order, barring one match against Chennai Super Kings.