IPL 2025: Is Venkatesh Iyer Feeling the Heat of His ₹23.75 Cr Price Tag? – Odisha TV

KKR’s ₹23.75 crore bid for Venkatesh Iyer raises concerns as he struggles with form. RP Singh critiques the strategy, suggesting the price tag may burden him.
Venkatesh Iyer
Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) audacious move to shell out a jaw-dropping ₹23.75 crore for Venkatesh Iyer in the IPL 2025 auction raised more than a few eyebrows, and now, it’s raising concerns.
The Madhya Pradesh all-rounder has failed to fire so far this season, managing only 135 runs in 8 matches at an average of 22.5. While his strike rate of 139.17 suggests flashes of aggression, the consistency and match-winning performances expected from such a hefty investment have been glaringly absent.
Venkatesh Iyer’s subdued knock against the Gujarat Titans, where he scored 14 runs of 19 balls, added fuel to the fire, as fans and pundits alike questioned his intent and approach. Netizens were vocal in their criticism, accusing the batter of lacking urgency and responsibility during crunch moments.
Former India pacer RP Singh also weighed in, suggesting that KKR may have made a strategic blunder at the auction table. “This is a slightly tough question because when a player is picked at such a high price, you’re looking at him as either a main player or potential captain. But here, he has turned out to be neither,” Singh said.
Singh believes the psychological burden of his mega deal could be affecting Iyer’s game. “Maybe he’s overthinking – thinking he needs to single-handedly win the title for KKR. That over-expectation might be creating pressure,” he added.
One potential solution? Return Iyer to the top of the order. He started his KKR journey as an opener and found success there. Singh backs the idea: “It’s a good thought — drop one overseas player and let Venkatesh open. Narine must be in the XI, though; his batting has become a game-changer.”
With KKR currently sitting sixth on the points table, their campaign has been a mixed bag. As they gear up to host Punjab Kings again, all eyes will be on Venkatesh Iyer. Will he rise to the occasion and justify the trust and the price?
Our Divisions
Copyright © 2025 – Odisha Television Limited All Rights Reserved.

source