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Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) Venkatesh Iyer revealed his most painful moment in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 and also admitted that his performance in the season fell short of expectations. Despite this, he insisted that the pressure of his hefty price tag did not impact him. Iyer, who had been instrumental in KKR's previous title win with half-centuries in both the qualifier and the final, was acquired by the franchise for a massive Rs 23.75 crore at the mega auction following Shreyas Iyer's departure.
KKR's Venkatesh Iyer on most painful moment in IPL 2025
However, the 2025 season saw Venkatesh Iyer struggle, managing just 142 runs in 11 innings with an average of 20 and a strike rate of 139. While many speculated that the high price tag was a factor in his poor form, the all-rounder from Madhya Pradesh was adamant that this was not the case. He dismissed his critics and maintained that the pressure of the money did not affect him. Nevertheless, he did admit that the season was a valuable learning experience.
"People who had these questions are not even on my contact list. So why do I have to even think about what they are thinking? It's my life, my game, my career. And it's my team that has chosen to spend so much on me. So these things don't phase me," Iyer was quoted by Sportskeeda.
"See, for a boy who wanted to just play IPL cricket, even Rs 20 lakh would sometimes feel like a significant amount. And over the years, this is what I've learnt. Not just me, but all the cricketers have learnt this: there are a lot of eyes on you, but it's important to know what to pay heed to. People who have had a direct impact on my life, I am answerable to only them," he added.
Following their title triumph in the previous season, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) had a disappointing 2025 campaign, finishing in eighth place. The most painful moment of their season came during a match against the Punjab Kings, led by former KKR captain Shreyas Iyer. Chasing a modest target of 112, KKR suffered a stunning collapse, being bowled out for just 95 at the New Chandigarh stadium.
Despite a promising start where they reached 62/2 with captain Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi at the crease, the defending champions imploded, losing their last eight wickets for just 33 runs. The collapse was orchestrated by Yuzvendra Chahal, who dismantled the batting lineup. Meanwhile, trade rumors are now circulating around Venkatesh Iyer. It is still uncertain whether the left-handed batter will be traded to a team like the Sunrisers Hyderabad, re-enter the auction pool, or, in an unlikely scenario, be retained by KKR.
"That was the most painful moment in this IPL. To lose while chasing 111, it didn't sit well with me. We shouldn't have lost that game. So yeah, it kind of hurt a bit. But when games come thick and fast, you've got to forget it and move on," Iyer concluded.
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