IPL 2025: Three most expensive players who disappointed this season. Players who failed to deliver for their respective teams.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season showcased some outstanding performances from both India stars and international players. However, the season also witnessed disappointing displays from several key players, leaving fans and teams stunned.Â
Here’s a look at the three most shocking failures of IPL 2025.
Venkatesh Iyer (Kolkata Knight Riders)
Venkatesh Iyer entered IPL 2025 as one of the most talked-about players, having been retained by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for a staggering 23.75 crore INR after a strong 2024 campaign.Â
The all-rounder, known for his aggressive batting and handy medium pace, was expected to be a cornerstone of KKR’s title defence. However, the season turned out to be a major disappointment for both Iyer and his franchise, as he struggled for form and failed to live up to his hefty price tag.
Iyer played 11 matches in IPL 2025, accumulating just 142 runs at a strike rate of 139.22 and an average of 20.29. His only notable innings was a 60-run knock; outside of that, he managed just 82 runs across 10 other matches, highlighting a season plagued by inconsistency and lack of impact.
Match-by-Match Breakdown
Read More: Venkatesh Iyer has underwhelmed in IPL 2025 with ordinary returns; Was KKR right in buying him back?
Rishabh Pant (Lucknow Super Giants)
Rishabh Pant’s much-anticipated move to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for a record-breaking 27 crore INR ahead of IPL 2025 was expected to be a turning point for both the franchise and the star wicketkeeper-batter.Â
However, the season unfolded as one of the most disappointing ones in Pant’s IPL career, marked by prolonged struggles with the bat, mounting pressure as captain, and only a fleeting moment of brilliance in the final league match.
Pant’s overall numbers in IPL 2025 tell a story of underachievement. In 13 innings, he managed 269 runs at an average of 24.45 and a strike rate of 133.16—well below expectations for a player of his stature and price tag. While these figures include a sensational unbeaten century (118* off 61 balls) against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final game, they mask a string of low scores that defined his campaign.
For the majority of the season, Pant’s form was abysmal. In his first 12 innings, he scored just 151 runs off 141 balls, averaging a mere 12.58 with a strike rate of 107.09. He crossed 40 runs only twice before his final two games, with a solitary half-century (63 against Chennai Super Kings) standing out in an otherwise bleak run.
Match-by-Match Breakdown
Read More: IPL 2025: INR 27 cr pick Rishabh Pant proving to be a bid gone wrong for LSG?
Mohammed Shami (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
Mohammed Shami, once the spearhead of IPL pace attacks and Purple Cap winner in 2023, endured a torrid IPL 2025 with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). After missing the 2024 season due to ankle surgery, Shami’s much-anticipated return was marred by poor form, expensive spells, and a visible loss of his trademark zip. The numbers tell a story of struggle and unmet expectations for both player and franchise.
SRH invested 10 crore INR in Shami at the 2025 auction, hoping he would fill the void left by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and support Pat Cummins. Instead, Shami’s struggles compounded SRH’s bowling woes, contributing to a mediocre campaign for the team. The franchise’s gamble on the veteran did not pay off, and questions now loom over Shami’s future in the IPL, especially with younger pacers waiting in the wings.
Shami played nine matches in IPL 2025, taking just six wickets at a staggering average of 56.17 and an economy rate of 11.23. He often failed to complete his full quota of overs, a rare occurrence for a bowler of his stature. His season reached an infamous low against Punjab Kings, where he conceded 75 runs in four overs, marking the second-most expensive spell in IPL history.
Match-by-Match Breakdown
Read More: Pat Cummins SRH’s clueless captain: Where did he go wrong in IPL 2025?
