Venkatesh Iyer struggled in the 199-run chase against Gujarat Titans, managing just 14 runs off 19 balls at a strike rate of 73.68.
Venkatesh Iyer’s Struggles Continue Amidst Pressure of Hefty Price Tag
Venkatesh Iyer once again failed to justify his hefty price tag of INR 23.75 crore as he struggled with the bat against Gujarat Titans at Eden Gardens. In a challenging 199-run chase, Iyer managed just 14 runs off 19 balls at a low strike rate of 73.68. He couldn’t find any rhythm on the tricky surface, failing to hit a single boundary during his brief stay at the crease.
Iyer did form a 41-run partnership with captain Ajinkya Rahane, but his slow knock put additional pressure on his partner to take risks. With just 129 runs from 8 matches at an average of 25.80, Iyer’s performance has been underwhelming, making him one of the season’s biggest disappointments.
The high price tag only adds to the scrutiny, and fans took to social media to criticize his cautious approach in the chase. The mounting pressure seems to be taking its toll on Iyer’s batting, leaving him with much to prove moving forward.
KKR buy this Fraud Venkatesh iyer for 23 Cr 😹#venkateshiyer #KKRvGT #GTvsKKR pic.twitter.com/LGbL043jOS
— Mohit Kamal Rath (@mkr4411) April 21, 2025
KKR fans, did you notice?
— StarcyKKR (@StarcKKR) April 21, 2025
The moment Venkatesh Iyer walked in, the boundaries dried up. Before that, Rahane and Narine were finding the fence with ease.
Time to move on from the ₹23.75 Cr fraud before he drags KKR down any further. pic.twitter.com/RIgcKOahks
He found some support in Venkatesh Iyer, but the left-hander struggled to find momentum during his stay. Iyer’s sluggish knock only added pressure on Rahane, who was forced to take more risks. Eventually, Iyer fell to R Sai Kishore, miscuing a sweep over mid-wicket straight into the hands of Washington Sundar, further denting KKR’s chase.
Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan continue to fire for GT
Sent in to bat first, Gujarat Titans put up a dominant show at the top as openers Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan stitched a 114-run stand to lay the foundation for a formidable total of 198/3. Gill dazzled with a brilliant 90 off 55 deliveries, peppered with 10 fours and three sixes, before falling short of a well-deserved century—caught by Rinku Singh while attempting a swat-flick off Vaibhav Arora.
Sai Sudharsan complemented Gill well with a composed 52, anchoring the innings during the powerplay and middle overs. Jos Buttler, coming in later, started aggressively but was tied down in the end stages, finishing unbeaten on 41 off 23 balls, laced with eight boundaries but no sixes. The Titans’ top-order dominance put them in a commanding position going into the second innings.