After KKR’s final league stage defeat to SRH in IPL 2025, skipper Ajinkya Rahane opened up about Venkatesh Iyer’s struggles with form.
KKR Crash Out as Venkatesh Iyer’s Struggles Define Disappointing Title Defence
Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) bowed out of IPL 2025 in dismal fashion, suffering a crushing 110-run defeat to SunRisers Hyderabad at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. The loss dropped Ajinkya Rahane’s side to eighth in the points table, marking a bitter end to their campaign.
Once considered title contenders, KKR’s season unraveled due to poor performances from key players like Venkatesh Iyer, Ramandeep Singh, Quinton de Kock, and Harshit Rana. The most significant letdown came from vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer, who managed just 142 runs in 11 games despite being bought for a staggering ₹23.75 crore. He also missed the final few matches due to injury.
However, skipper Ajinkya Rahane defended Iyer, stating the price tag wasn’t a burden. “Whether a player gets 20 crore or 2 crore, attitude shouldn’t change on the field. Venkatesh focused on controllables, practiced hard, and tried his best,” Rahane said. “Unfortunately, 3-4 of our main guys were out of form, and that made the difference.”
‘Attitude was fantastic’
Ajinkya Rahane stood firmly by Venkatesh Iyer despite the latter’s underwhelming IPL 2025 campaign, emphasizing that price tags do not influence a player’s work ethic or attitude. Iyer, bought for a hefty ₹23.75 crore, managed just 142 runs in 11 matches and missed the final phase due to injury.
He praised Iyer’s mindset throughout the season: “His attitude was fantastic. He was always looking to contribute to the team, both on and off the field.”