The 2025 IPL was a season to forget for Kolkata Knight Riders. After winning the title the previous year, they finished 8th and missed the playoffs. Critics were questioning KKR’s choices even before the season started, especially after they let go of their title winning captain Shreyas Iyer who was then picked up by a rival team for a huge sum and finished 2nd.
KKR also spent a lot, Rs 23.75 crore to bring back Venkatesh Iyer, an all-rounder who played for them in 2024. Iyer’s price was the 3rd highest in the IPL mega auction, after Rishabh Pant and Shreys Iyer. Because of this huge expense, he was under pressure to perform.
Iyer who had a good show in the 2nd half of IPL 2021 had a poor start in 2025. As he struggled to score runs, the pressure from his price tag became too much, mainly due to outside criticism. He even had to remove some people from his contacts.
The people asking these questions aren’t even in my contact list. So why should I care about what they think? Iyer told Sportskeeda when asked about the criticism he faced in the last IPL.
Iyer scored only 142 runs in 11 games that year with a strike rate of 139. Apart from one match winning score of 60, he didn’t have much success. Also due to the Impact Player rule, KKR didn’t need him to bowl much.
But the all-rounder isn’t worried about the negativity surrounding his price tag. It’s my life, my game, my career. And it’s my team that chose to spend so much on me. So these things don’t bother me. For someone who just wanted to play IPL cricket, even Rs. 20 lakh would feel like a lot.
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Over the years I’ve learned that there are many eyes on you but it’s important to know who to listen to. I’m only answerable to those who have had a direct impact on my life, he said. Iyer also mentioned how KKR protected him from outside criticism when he was struggling. “They know what it’s like, from their own experience. They made a team, they wanted the team to do well and I’m part of that team. It’s my job to do well for them. Unfortunately it didn’t happen. But I always try to win as many games as possible for KKR,” he said.
Iyer who was a key player in KKR’s 2024 title managed only 142 runs in 7 innings across 11 matches in IPL 2025 with an average of 20.28. Will KKR retain Iyer for 2026?
