New Delhi: The Delhi Capitals game could become the defining moment of Venkatesh Iyer’s underwhelming IPL 2025 campaign. With Kolkata Knight Riders cruising at 113/1 in the 10th over after a solid 48-run opening stand between Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sunil Narine, Iyer walked in with a perfect platform. But what followed was a reckless moment of madness.
Facing Axar Patel, who bowled flat and outside off, Iyer opted for a wild slog-sweep—an ill-advised shot against a bowler known for his lack of turn. The mistimed hit ballooned into the air, and Vipraj Nigam made no mistake under the high ball. Iyer trudged off for just 7 runs from 5 balls, leaving fans and management equally frustrated.
That shot summed up Iyer’s tournament so far. In seven innings, the all-rounder has scored just 142 runs at a strike rate of 139.21—and hasn’t bowled a single over. To make matters worse, he was later subbed out during the match, replaced by Vaibhav Arora as an Impact Player.
What stings more is the context. Kolkata shelled out a whopping ₹23.75 crore for Iyer during the mega auction, making him their most expensive player this season. This heavy investment came at the cost of letting go key performers like Phil Salt and Mitchell Starc.
Initially pegged as the frontrunner to captain the side, Iyer seemed ready for the challenge. “Captaincy is just a tag,” he had stated. “Leadership is about building an environment where everyone contributes.” His ambition was evident, but the franchise eventually handed over the reins to Ajinkya Rahane, a decision that may have saved them from further embarrassment.
The price tag now looms large. Iyer has defended himself in pressers, saying, “Being the highest-paid doesn’t mean I have to perform in every match. It’s about the overall impact.” But as things stand, his performances haven’t justified either the price or the expectations.
With the group stage nearing its end and KKR fighting for consistency, the question echoes louder than ever: Has Venkatesh Iyer become the biggest flop of IPL 2025?
