KKR to kick Venkatesh Iyer out of squad after disastrous IPL 2025

Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders crashed out of the ongoing IPL 2025 after their game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru was washed out. The match was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to rain and a wet outfield.

The reigning champions needed to win the game at any cost to stay alive in the competition. However, the rain god was not on KKR's side as their season came to a disappointing end. Even though KKR still have a game to play in IPL 2025, they would not be able to make it to the playoffs.

With 5 wins and 6 defeats from 13 games, KKR are currently at the sixth spot in the points table. Two of their games have also been washed out this season.

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Nothing much has gone right for the three-time champions this year. Right from the start of the tournament, they have struggled for consistency. One of their most disappointing performers from IPL 2025 is definitely their star batsman Venkatesh Iyer.

The southpaw has looked like a pale shadow of his usual self. Expectations were sky high from Venkatesh Iyer after KKR went all out for him in the mega auction. The Kolkata-based outfit secured Venkatesh Iyer's services for a whopping amount of INR 23.75 crore. He was KKR's costliest buy in the mega auction but has failed to justify his price tag.

KKR to trade Venkatesh Iyer:

🚨📰|It is expected for Venkatesh Iyer to be traded to a different team before the next season.

- Anandabazar Patrika pic.twitter.com/KPrMAuDdxw

— KKR Vibe (@KnightsVibe) May 19, 2025

While many expected Venkatesh to be KKR's batting mainstay in the middle-order, the Madhya Pradesh star has struggled with his form this season. In 7 innings this season, he has managed to score only 142 runs at an average of just 20.

60 of those 142 runs came in one innings. With Venkatesh Iyer failing to deliver as per expectations, KKR are reportedly set to part ways with him. According to a report in a leading Bengali news outlet, the reigning IPL champions are expected to trade the batsman to a different team before the next season.

Reportedly, Chandrakant Pandit is also under fire as he insisted on buying Venkatesh at a big price at the mega auction.

Venkatesh has been playing for KKR since 2021, his debut IPL season. He has been one of their main batsmen since his debut season, but has struggled in the ongoing IPL 2025. So far, Iyer has played 62 games for KKR and has scored 1468 runs with the help of a century and 12 fifties.

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