Kolkata Knight Riders vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer’s Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 campaign hit rock bottom on April 29 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, where the southpaw was dismissed for just 7 runs off 5 balls against Delhi Capitals. This marked his fourth single-digit score in nine innings this season, further extending a poor run of form that has now become a worrying trend for the defending champions
The DC dismissal: KKR’s vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer fails again
During the high-stakes encounter against the Capitals, KKR had built a solid foundation in the powerplay and looked poised to post a challenging total. Iyer walked out at No. 5, a position tailor-made for a player of his experience to dictate the pace of the innings. He got off to a promising start, cracking a boundary that momentarily lifted expectations. But the joy was short-lived. Facing Delhi skipper Axar Patel in the 9th over, Iyer attempted a slog across the line to a full, wide delivery. Instead of clearing the infield, he mistimed the shot, resulting in a top edge that landed safely in the hands of Vipraj Nigam at cover. His dismissal at 113/4 not only triggered a mini-collapse but also exposed KKR’s fragile middle order, once again throwing their finishing plans into disarray.
Also READ: Top 5 fastest centuries in the history of IPL ft. Vaibhav Suryavanshi
A price tag that keeps haunting: INR 23.75 core price under scrutiny
Iyer entered IPL 2025 under the spotlight, having been re-signed by KKR for a jaw-dropping INR 23.75 crore during the mega auction—a figure that made him one of the most expensive buys in IPL history. The move was based on his past performances and perceived leadership potential, as he was also appointed vice-captain. However, nine matches into the season, that investment is yet to yield any significant return. Iyer has struggled to get going, failing to provide stability in the middle overs or the explosive cameos he was once known for. With only one notable innings to show, his batting average has dropped to concerning levels, and he’s failed to adapt even when promoted or demoted within the order. Iyer’s latest failure did not go unnoticed by the public. Twitter and Instagram were flooded with reactions, most of them expressing disappointment, frustration, and even anger at the underperforming star.
Here’s how fans reacted:
Venkatesh Iyer is nothing short of a ₹23.75 crore scam.
Clueless, spineless, and a walking wicket — he’s dragged KKR down all season. Time to dump the fraud. pic.twitter.com/1cJuJzTwWJ
— StarcyKKR (@StarcKKR) April 29, 2025
Venkatesh Iyer is hurting KKR the most. Paid heavily, missed out on major players for his bid and he has been under performing this season. ❌
— Bhawana (@cricbhawana) April 29, 2025
Venkatesh Iyer 23.75 crore was a blunder but this guy at 3 crore is a still💎 pic.twitter.com/mG9qbfS2AB
— कट्टर KKR समर्थक 🦁🇮🇳 ™ (@KKRWeRule) April 29, 2025
No matter what they say justifying the price tag certainly plays on your mind, and when things don’t work initially they keep going down! Venkatesh Iyer has been a proven performer but 23 cr certainly plays a role!
— Gagan Chawla (@toecrushrzzz) April 29, 2025
Venkatesh Iyer 🤡🤡 pic.twitter.com/qXlbI8NPwM
— Vishnu Sharma (@vishnu9288292) April 29, 2025
Disappointed with you, Venkatesh Iyer. You are the weak link this team. Just see how it was nicely set up. And he destroyed it. Every bit of it.
— Nadim. (@nadimspeaks) April 29, 2025
You pay almost 24 crores and retain Venkatesh Iyer only for Narine to open the innings and rookie youngster Raguvanshi to bat above him.
In a pitch like today’s, if Venky was made to bat in top 3 he could’ve easily scored above 50 or even a 100.
— Vasanth 💫 (@gully_point) April 29, 2025
Thank You for your services Dr. Venkatesh Iyer in purple jersey 😭🙏#DCvsKKR pic.twitter.com/HA2uMug6TS
— RI5HU SRIVASTAVA (@rishuknight15) April 29, 2025
Throw Venkatesh Iyer from Team & imprison him for 3 years atleast 😂😡😂 @KKRiders
— Dipti Kapoor (@diptikapoor) April 29, 2025
Venkatesh needs a break . It’s important to understand a break helps you to rejuvenate. It’s not dropped … teams should not worry about price tags . One needs to fine winning combos , thats final goal. #KKR
— Vikram Sathaye (@vikramsathaye) April 29, 2025
Also READ: Top 5 youngest players to hit a century in the IPL ft. Vaibhav Suryavanshi
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